A Computer Problem Delays American Airlines Flights
By Jad Mouawad
I found this to be an interesting article, but also led me to think how technology has its pros and cons. For instance, recently American Airlines has been under loop because of its problems with its network connectivity that affected various computer systems: website and airport-check in counters area in three of its major hubs. In addition, the airline faced problems in the flight dispatch software that pilots have on their ipads. I see how this particular instance, a network problem resulted in major flight delays and cancellations. Nowadays, technology represent a major component of most of people’s daily activities, which makes me believe that this matter should be addressed as a serious matter. American Airlines has built and maintained a good reputation throughout the years. However, in this case its reputation has been affected after moving to a single reservation system upon merging with US Airways. This has highly affected a greater amount of passengers with persistent problems that often leads to cancellations and delays.
Airlines companies should be prepared to face technological issues. United Airways also encountered issues when in July, a faulty computer routed prevented from checking in passengers grounding its fleet. Finally, it can be said that technology has its advantages and disadvantages. Merging with another company can affect the company’s reputation either positively or negatively.
known by people who plan on building a career in the hospitality field.
1. Empowerment –The act of giving employees the authority, tools, and information they need to do their jobs with greater autonomy. Example – when bosses train their staff appropriately the staff members will feel more independent when it comes to making small decisions.
2. Front of the house – Comprises all areas which guest come in contact, including the lobby, corridors, elevators, guest rooms, restaurants and bars, meeting rooms, and restrooms. Also refers to employees who staff these areas. Example: everywhere that is accessed by guest is known as front of the house, so staff should mind their manners even while in restrooms.
3. Goal -A specific result to be achieved; the end result of a plan. Example: a manager preps the employees before an event so that he can ensure quality service.
4. Guest satisfaction – The desired outcome of hospitality services. Example: a hotel manager wants to ensure that the guest are happy with their stay, for instance guest satisfaction could mean great reviews for the hotel thus more customers.
5. Heart of the house – The back of the house. Example: although the waiters carry beautiful plates of food to guest, that couldn’t happen without someone to clean those plates (dishwashers).
6. Hospitality – The cordial and generous reception of guest, a wide range of businesses, each of which is dedicated to the service of people away from home. Example: anywhere a person goes when not at home such as hotels, grocery stores.
7. Inseparability – The interdependence of hospitality services offered. Example:
8. Intangible – Something that cannot be touched. Example: A general manager will want the reputation of his business to be intangible, for instance; insuring that all employees maintain professional and friendly attitudes will be remembered by guest and will reign superior compared to places that don’t enforce this.
9. National Restaurant Association – The association representing restaurant owners and the restaurant industry.
10. Perishability – The limited lifetime of hospitality products. Example: once a room goes unfilled at a hotel perishability comes into play. The hotel will never be compensated which is seen as a loss.
11. Total quality management – A managerial approach that integrates all of the functions and related processes of a business such that they are all aimed at maximizing guest satisfaction through ongoing improvement.
12. Tourism – Travel for recreational or the promotion and arrangement of such travel. Example:
13. Sustainability – the ability to achieve continuing economic prosperity while protecting the natural resources of the planet and providing a high quality of life for its people and future generations. Companies do what’s necessary to be sustainable within their practices
14. Return on investment – An important financial measure that determines how well management uses business assets to produce profit. It measures the efficiency with which financial resources available to a company are employed by management. Example – if a company makes a decision they need to make sure that it’s profitable or else it is seen as a waste of resources.
15. Corporate philosophy – The core beliefs that drive a company’s basic organizational structure. Example:
Sade Osborne