RYAN AIR THE LOW FAIR AIRLINES Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

RYAN AIR THE LOW FAIR AIRLINES - Case Study Example On the one hand, in August 2006, an Air Transport World magazine reported that Ryanair was the most profitable airline in the world, based on its operation and net profit margins, and on a per-airplane and per-passenger basis (Higgins 2007: 2). In November 2006, the company announced new record half-year bottom line of â‚ ¬329 million for the first half of fiscal 2007 (Higgins 2007: 2). Furthermore, traffic increased by 23 per cent to 22.1 million passengers, while yield jumped by 9 per cent as total revenues increased by 33 per cent to â‚ ¬1.256 billion (Higgins 2007: 2). In addition, even as fuel costs increased by 42 per cent to â‚ ¬337 million, Ryanair’s after-tax margin increased by 1 point to 26 per cent (Higgins 2007: 2). Ryanair expects high demand in the future, so it plans to expand routes and its fleet. On the other hand, Ryanair faces legal battles and acquisition challenges for its Irish rival, Aer Lingus (Higgins 2007: 1). Ryanair also faces stiff opposi tion for its union-busting policies and long working hours and low salary, although it claims the opposite (Higgins 2007: 6). There are, additionally, environmental challenges that threaten to impinge on Ryanair’s low-cost, no-frills business model. These environmental threats can increase operational costs. This paper analyses the case of Ryanair. It evaluates Ryanair’s strategy compared to competitors, by analysing its low-cost business model through the stakeholder approach analysis. It also determines the key internal and external issues of Ryanair. Furthermore, it evaluates O’Leary’s leadership using the transformational leadership framework. Finally, it examines the sustainability of Ryanair’s future strategies. 2. Evaluation of Ryanair’s strategy compared to competitors Ryanair’s business strategy compared to competitors will be analysed using the stakeholder approach. 2.1 Stakeholder approach The society, in general, is becomi ng more concerned of the role that business plays in managing stakeholder relations and responding to the environment. Many customers also prefer to deal with companies that actively reduce their ecological footprints (Rueda-Manzanares, Aragon-Correa, and Sharma 2008: 188). Similarly, shareholders, as well as financial and insurance companies, seek to lessen liabilities associated with environmental risks that come from corporate operations, such as pollution and harmful human health effects. The European Union has, in response, as well as the United Kingdom (UK) passed environmental regulations, sanctions, fines, penalties and legal costs for companies that are not operating in an environmentally responsible manner (Henriques and Sadorsky 1996 cited in Rueda-Manzanares et al. 2008: 188). These political institutions recognise that stakeholders clearly know their rights and responsibilities and are willing to generate partnerships and networks that can result to win-win situations. Companies that neglect crucial stakeholder relationships, however, may compromise competitiveness in the long-run, particularly now in a globalised world, where stakeholder interests matter (Rueda-Manzanares et al. 2008: 188). Stakeholder theory has rise amidst the public clamour for corporate governance and business ethics (Elms et al. 2010: 405). The theory can be rooted from the integration of business strategy and ethics and gained greater attention from management scholars for the past fifteen years (Damall, Henriques, and Sadorsky 2009 cited in

St. Mark's Gospel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

St. Mark's Gospel - Essay Example The Messianic secrets and the obtuseness of his disciples are the two main themes of the gospel. The use of parables by Jesus to hide his true identity and fulfill the distained prophesies are perhaps a bit intriguing and even his disciples fail to understand the true implications of his miracles. Traditionally, the Christian churches are of the belief that the gospel of St. Mark is an epitome of Gospel of Matthew and it is therefore placed after The Gospel of Matthews in most bibles. According to scholars, contrary to the beliefs of the Christian churches, Gospel of St. Mark, is indeed the first of the canonical gospels and is supposed to be the source of inspiration and material for the gospels of Matthew and Luke. One of the foremost contributions of St. Mark's Gospel towards the Church of England is 'providing a sense of direction'. Before the gospel, numerous people were running here are there without a leader in place. They worshipped numerous Gods and had differing faiths. This resulted in vast differences in culture and people were always at loggerheads with each other. What was lacking in England was a common religion which could work to uplift the society as a whole. Hence, the Gospel was indeed a binder in terms of following a common God-Lord Jesus Christ. Another serious contribution of this story is about food. In the story, Jesus often invites his disciples to nourish themselves and although we ignore it a common occurrence, the irony remains that nourishment was the only means of providing peace and solace to his disciples. When the topic revolves around food, the disciples panic stating that it would take eight months of wages to have a peaceful meal. Jesus resolves their problem at the end of the gospel, thereby telling them and the Church of England that a simple and secure life, which has adequate nourishment and rest, is perhaps the best and by far the most ignored of all. (Hooker, 2001) The moral of the story revolves around four main aspects. The first is the problems concerning the discipleship, problems concerning the Church of England, problems concerning personal hopes and problems concerning our personal fears. Another important message which the Gospel grants to the Church of England is the importance of being one with each other. In the gospel, the disciples are shown as an arrogant lot who refuse to share food with the other fellow beings that are being drawn to Jesus. Well, Jesus refuses to provide food only to the disciples and insists that the disciples will get nourishment only if they willfully share the food with their fellowmen. The Church of England, which was divided and patronized the rich while ridiculing the poor, learnt its lesson of equality through the Gospel Of St. Marks. The message is clear-God is equal to all and he has no favorites. It is interesting to note that when the disciples ask Jesus to send the villagers away to fetch their own food as it is getting dark, Jesus refuses and states that the food would be provided by the disciples themselves. He supports his theory by stating that it was he who provided them (disciples) food on a regular basis, hence, it was now their (disciples) turn to do the same. The message instills a feeling of equality and the fact that nourishment is equal and required by both the rich as well as the underprivileged. The lesson of