Operations Management for Market Leadership

trading trading operations way for mart LeadershipChapter 1 creation1.1 Overview trading operations trouble is deemed to be an integral divorce of the day-to-day disdain process and run spoken language of formations irrespective of the perseverance in which they are operating as argued by Slack et al (2005)1. This makes it lite that the efficient give of the resources and technology in order to examine egg on delivery of the promised work to the nodes is non only shareal for the sustainability of the championship but a equivalent the perfume deliverable that can be reachd only by means of and through impelling trading operations counsel (Slack et al, 20062). Tourism in the global mart has seen horrible ontogenesis with the increase in the affordability and the demand for new destinations in the market from all levels of the market (Yu, 19973). The increase in the level of package tours and the itemise of holidaymakers visiting places abroad since the dawn of the twenty-first century justifies the aforementioned (Dempsey and Gesell, 20074). It is and evident from the arguments of Dempsey and Gesell (2007) that the increase in the tourism effort is in the main make ford by the level of affordability and convenience provided through leak service of processs across the dry land mainly in the form of economy flights. This makes it clear that effectual operations management in the tourism exertion especially in the airways backup segment of the application is a advert element that has a take impact on the tourism fabrication in a precondition geographical location (Barnes, 20075). The growth of economy and low fare flight work to a variety of destinations across the European Union and across the Atlantic further makes it clear that a air passage floozy cannot discover market leadership through pricing strategies but only through distinguishing itself from others through quality of service offered. In this plow a life-sustaining analysis on the use of effective operations management practises to light upon competitive advantage through improving clientele operations at British Airways Plc is presented to the reader.1.2 Aim and ObjectivesAim The shoot for of this report is to present a diminutive analysis on the use of operations management concepts to achieve sustainable market leadership and growth at British Airways in the Tourism Industry.ObjectivesThe above aim is accomplished through counselling the report on the following seek objectivesTo present a literature critical review on the find concepts associated with the operations management in the tourism industry foc utilise on the skyways business.To present a alliance profile on British Airways and the high societys operations management.To present a reciprocation on the areas of development for British Airways and the implementation of the operations focus concepts presented in the literature review.1.3 Research Scope and MethodologyThe scope of the research is cut back to the airline businesss business segment of the tourism industry as opposed to the airways operations as a industry in itself. This is due to the concomitant that the crusade of former involves the operations management from a quality of service stance whilst the latter likewise involves the industry standards and regulatory aspects of the business.The research methodology is qualitative in nature as the application of the operations management concepts at British Airways to actually test its viability and the results of the implementation requires higher level of freight from the company which is unavailable for this academic research. The research hence uses secondary research resources to deliver the research on the chosen topic.1.4 Chapter OverviewChapter 1 IntroductionThis is the stream chapter that presents the research aim and objectives alongside a brief introduction on the nature of the research being conducted.C hapter 2 books ReviewThis chapter presents the key concepts of Operations management and their power in the tourism industry focusing on the airlines business segment. The purpose of this chapter is to present an insight on the Operations Management concepts at a theoretical level prior to conducting the company profile of British Airways in chapter 3.Chapter 3 Case StudyThis chapter commences with a company profile on British Airways (BA) Plc followed by a flesh out analysis of its business operations and the current operations management strategies deployed. The aim of this chapter to present a critical analysis on the issues faced by the operator in the UK and the global market in terms of effective operations management to deliver quality service to its guests.Chapter 4 wordThis chapter presents a intervention on the theories and the research presented in the chapters 2 and 3. The discussion presented aims to justify whether the theory discussed in the literature revie w can be accomplished in lineament of BA. This chapter similarly aims to present a discussion on the benefits that can be realised through the implementation of the operations management concepts as get of the BA business operations management.Chapter 5 Conclusion and RecommendationThis chapter presents a review of the objectives initially to assess the relevancy of the research conducted in relation to the set objectives. This is followed by the conclusions drawn on the research and recommendations for both the intended audience and for further research.Chapter 2 Literature Review2.1 IntroductionOperations management in the tourism industry is a major aspect that is not only integral to the business of the organizations in the industry but also the core element that dictates the unblemished existence of the competing organization (Barnes, 2007). This is naturally because of the fact that the operations management forms mass of the service management strategies of any organiz ations (Barnes, 2007). The prompt and effective delivery of the services promised to the clients is deemed to be the key for achieving competitive advantage in the tourism industry as well as t he hospitality industry as a whole (Fenn, 20086). This makes it clear that the operations management in the strategies of the organizations in the tourism industry where travel by both the holiday makers and professionals are fused together, is critical for successful delivery of the crossroads and services. Unlike retail/wholesale manufacturing industries, operations management in the tourism industry does not have a physical increase for delivery through the use of logistics mechanisms but actually depends on the logistics and transportation strategies for customising the point of intersections and services to the intended customer (Fenn, 2008). This is naturally because of the fact that the tourism industry is integral to the transportation and logistics management for both the travelle rs/tourists and luggage handling as argued by Baxter (2007)7. This makes it clear that the operations management in the tourism industry mainly in the air-travel business segment is dependant on the application of the logistics and transportation management concepts from a services delivery perspective as opposed to merely delivering the crossings using a Just-in-Time or similar delivery strategy (Fenn, 2008).Core concepts of Operations managementClark and Johnston (2005)8 argue that the overall operations management in a given organization predominantly revolve around the following core concepts point of intersection and Service ManagementQuality ManagementInventory ManagementLogistics and Transportation ManagementFacilities ManagementConfiguration ManagementThese are discussed in the subsequent sections of this chapter in the light of operations management in the airlines industry.2.2 Product and Service ManagementThe product and service management in the world of operations man agement is mainly concerned with the configuration and delivery of the services post purchase by the customer (Wild et al, 2005). This makes it clear that the product management in the strip of operations management is the actual process of define the timelines associated, costs and the service level agreements associated for the delivery of the product as an operations service to the customers by a given business organization. For instance, in a online retail scenario where the delivery of the goods purchased by the customers over the Internet is delivered using a logistics service provider by the retail merchant, the service level agreement of the retailer with the supplier must ensure that the guarantee to the customer is achievable downstairs typical operational conditions of the business (Baxter, 2007).In racing shell of the airline industry the major aspect associated with the delivery of the aforementioned products/services is that the product change is in itself is rea lised as a service rendered to the buyer/customer. This makes it clear that the effective management of the operations by the airline operator is critical to ensure that the services purchased by the customers are delivered effectively. For example, a ticket or package tour purchased by a customer as a product is also the service experienced by the customer during the cover of the move around. This further makes it evident that the operations management is not merely prompt delivery of the product but actually its appropriate think and implementation in result of the airline operations in the tourism industry.The product and services management in the operations management of any organization involves three major aspects as discussed belowDefinition The definition of the product or service intended to sell to the customer is the first and more or less critical element associated with the product and service management as argued by Slack et al (2006)9. The product definition in the tourism industry involves the definition of the scope of the product and its intended value addition for the customer or the buyer as argued by Fenn (2008).The product definition also involves the process of ensuring that the requirements of the customers are met with by the service provider in case of the tourism industry. This is because of the fact that the services offered are measured by the customer who directly experiences them as part of the delivery of the product or service as argued by Fenn (2008). This first-hand solution element of the customer feedback and their perception associated with the tourism industry is the major element that attributes to the need for a still product definition. The airline operations in particular is one of the business segments where the first-hand response of the customer is not only part of the services offered but also in terms of the delivery of the service and associated tasks like the baggage handling, sign in and in-flight se rvices including food and beverages offered as argued by Baxter (2006)10.Yet another element associated with the operations management in the airline industry as part of the product definition is the extent to which the service provider is prompt in the delivery of the services defined as part of the product. In case of the airline industry this is a critical aspect owing to the fact that the tourists and other travellers using the airline service depend entirely on the effectiveness of the operator in handling the safety and security of the passengers as well as their belongings in terms of checked-in baggage, hand baggage etc. As the traveller on holiday using the airline service to reach the destination will require his/her checked-in baggage in order to continue with their holiday without hindrance, the aforementioned justifies the need for a stable product definition.Another critical aspect associated with the product definition in the tourism industry is the need to ensure th at the customer requirements are not only catered for but also to ensure that the services delivered as part of the business process is managed effectively at the operational level as argued by Baxter (2007). As mentioned before the case of tourism industry in general mainly involves the customer experiencing the services delivered first-hand. In other lyric poem the operations management in the tourism industry is not a behind-the-screen process but performed in front of the customer itself (Baxter, 2007).Design The use phase of the product or service involved in the airline industry of the tourism business is a key aspect that involves a variety of long, short-term and day-to-day operational decisions as argued by Clark and Johnston (2005). The contrive phase of the product or the service is deemed as the actual planning involved with the scoping and delivery of the product or service defined at the product definition. In the case of airline operations business, the key eleme nts that influence the design include from long-terms aspects like infrastructure, location, facilities up to day-to-day operational activities like the provision of food and facilities in-flight as well as the handling of baggage at the airport terminals both at departure and arrival ends of the journey as argued by Baxter (2007).The long-term decisions in the operations management of the airline operations involveLocation The location of the airport and the associated infrastructure to ensure the flight handling on a day-to-day basis without affecting the domestic life of the general public is the critical element associated with the product design for the airline operators on a long-term basis. This is evident from the case of many airlines managing the infrastructure and operations of the international airports of key destinations. Lufthansas role in managing the Frankfurt aerodrome in Germany, the management of Dubai International Airport by Emirates and responsibility of man aging key international airports in the UK by British Airways including London Heathrow airport are classical examples for the aforementioned.Infrastructure The infrastructure associated with the setting-up and the day-and-night maintenance of the airport is the second long-term element that influences the effectiveness of the tourism operations management by any airline operator in a given location. The infrastructure maintenance includes the installation of the security, baggage handling, staffing and mainly the handling of flight take-off and landing at airport terminals to ensure the smooth out transfer of passengers from or into the aircraft as applicable (Dempsey and Gesell, 2007).Apart from the aforementioned, the key long-term element associated with the product design is the ability to improve and accommodate to changes in the external business environment in order to cater for the demands from the customers (or travellers) in the target market. The increase in the promi nence of gimcrack flight services for the trans-Atlantic and European Union destinations for tourism is an example that justifies the aforementioned. With the increase in cheap flight services, the density of air-travellers in the western nations to various foreign destinations for vacation has increased tremendously (Baxter, 2007). This increase in the passenger density through airports which is also due to the growth in the affordability and the rising economic growth across the globe as a result of out-sourcing is one of the key long-term elements that influenced the construction of Terminal 5 at the London Heathrow airport. The source of the Terminal 5 at the Heathrow airport has provided the British Airways flight operator the opportunity to utilise the infrastructure to consolidate the operations of all BA flights (long and short-haul) from a single Terminal at the Heathrow airport thus establishing the companys brand identity effectively in the UK and global moneymaking(pr enominal) aviation market.Delivery The delivery of the services in the airline operations industry is the final and the most critical element in the case of the product and service management as argued by Slack et al (2006). Apart from the fact that the customer experiences the operations management strategy first-hand as part of the journey travelled, the delivery element also accompanies the services and facilities offered to the customers as part of the operations and their ability to meet the customer requirements (Slack et al, 2005).Footnotes1 Slack, N. Chambers, C. and Johnston, A.B.R (2005), Operations exploit Management Principles and Practice for Strategic Impact, prentice Hall2 Slack et al (2006), Operations Management, Prentice Hall Ltd3 Yu, G (1997), Operations Research in the Airline Industry (International Series in Operations Research Management Science), Kluwer Academic Publishers4 Dempsey and Gesell (2007), Airline Management Strategies for the 21st Century 2n d Edition, seashore Aire Pubns5 Barnes (2007), Operations Management, Cengage Learning6 Fenn, D (2008), Travel Tourism marketplace Market Review 2008, reveal Note Ltd7 Baxter, J. (2007), Travel Tourism Market Market Review 2007, Key Note Ltd8 Clark, G and Johnston, R (2005), Service Operations Management Improving Service Delivery, Prentice Hall9 Slack, N. Chambers, C. and Johnston, R. (2006), Operations Management, Prentice Hall10 Baxter, J. (2006), Travel and Tourism Market Market Review 2006, Key Note Ltd