American Films and Backhoe Operators Essay Example for Free

American Films and Backhoe Operators Essay Analysis Jim worked as a laborer for a gas utility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When the opportunity came to apply for a backhoe/front-end-loader operator job, he was excited. Three people applied. To select the one who would get the job, the company asked each of them to go out and actually work on the backhoe for a day. Jim felt his chance for the job disappear because he had never even driven a tractor, let alone used a backhoe. When he went out, he did not know how to start the tractor. One of the other backhoe operators had to show him. He managed through the day, and to his surprise, did better than the others. He was given the job. On his first day at the new job, one of the other backhoe operators showed him where to check the hydraulic fluid and said, â€Å"These old Masseys are foolproof. You will be okay. † Jim taught himself how to dig a hole by trial and error. He initially believed that the best way was to fill the bucket as much as possible before lifting it out of the hole and emptying it. He would wiggle the bucket back and forth until it was submerged and then curl it. When it came out of the hole, the earth would be falling off the sides. This job was not so difficult after all, he thought. He cut through his first water line about two weeks after starting his new job. Going into a deep, muddy hole did not make the crew happy. After Jim cut through his third water line, the crew chief pulled him aside and said, â€Å"You are taking too much earth out with each bucket, so you don’t feel the bucket hitting the water line; ease up a bit. Water lines were usually six to eight feet down, so Jim would dig until about four feet and then try to be more careful. It was then that he pulled up some telephone lines that were only about three feet deep. Realizing that more was involved in operating a backhoe than he first had thought, he sought out Bill Granger, who was known to have broken a water line only twice in his 15 years. It was said that he was so good that he could dig underneath the gas lines—a claim that Jim doubted. Bill said, â€Å"You need to be able to feel any restriction. The way to do that is to have more than one of your levers open at the same time. Operating the bucket lever and the boom lever at the same time reduces the power and causes the machine to stop rather than cut through a line of any type. † Jim began to use this method but still broke water lines. The difference now was that he knew immediately when he broke a line. He could feel the extra pull, whereas in the past, he found out either by seeing water gushing up or by hearing the crew chief swearing at him. He was getting better. Jim never did become as good as Bill Granger. In fact, two years later, he applied for another job as gas repairperson and was promoted, but the training as a gas repairperson was not much better. Case Questions 1. What are the potential costs to this lack of training? Why do you think the company operated in this manner? 2. What type of training would you recommend: OJT, classroom, or a combination? Describe what the training might entail. 3. What type of training environment would you provide? 4. Who would you get to do the training, and why? 5. Would you consider purchasing a training program for backhoe operators? Provide your rationale.

Governments In Star Wars V.s. Governments In The Home :: essays research papers

Governments In Star Wars V.S. Governments in the Home In the movie "Star Wars" their exist many different forms of government. In this essay I will be comparing those forms in the movie to the ones found in the home. I will be starting with the most basic form of government and working up to the most complex. The most basic form of government is anarchy, The total absence of government. In the movie the best example of anarchy is Yoda, living by himself on Dagohba without the interference of any one apart from self. An example of this at home would be when children are left at home while their parents are away for any extended period of time. Unlike Yoda though, the children do not live in a total anarchist state for they will eventual have to answer to their parents when they return. The next most primitive form of government is a direct democracy as shown by the Ewoks. The Ewoks probably started out as many small groups that lived separate from one another and grew into what they are now through the evolution theory where, over time banned together in order to provide an easier means to access the necessities of life for the groups. At the time you see them in the movie they seem to be using a tribal form of government where the elders make up the governing body, but let every one else take part in the policy making process. Besides using a tribal form of government they also believe in divine right, or a god given someone the right to rule them as demonstrated by the Ewoks immediate worship of C3-P0 upon sight. This can be compared to any modern family a moving into an apartment along with many other families where there is a manager, but the every one living in the building can have a say of what goes on with the policy for the building. Another basic type of government is a dictatorship where only a small group or one person have control of a group of people. There is two different examples of a dictator ship in â€Å"Star Wars†, one is the Emperor's, which will be discussed later, and that of Jabba's. Jabba is a gangster on Lukes' home planet which is controlled by the empire. Jabba has a dictatorship over a small group of people and has a territory in which he has sovereignty, and therefore has all the qualities of a state. He has total control of his area including without having to give to the will of the people he governs.

Jet Blue Airways Case Study

Crafting and Executing Strategy Jet Blue Airways case study In 2008 businesses began to cut back on employee travel, and consumers tried to save money and used stay-cations instead of vacations, during a summer the U. S. economy slowed and oil prices rose; jet fuel prices went through the roof as a result. to offset the higher fuel costs, airlines began increasing revenues by means such as: fuel surcharges, charges for the first checked bag, charging for blankets, pillows, and headphones, and finally lowering wages and grounding airplanes.Some airlines didn’t survive, some decided to form a merger to try to buoy the rising costs. Beyond cost, there was the prospect of increasing competition, shortages in pilots, flying schools lacked instructors, and labor costs. Some companies as a result of the impact of these new changes employed a new tactic of their own: large airlines would steal pilots from smaller companies, luring them with better pay and benefits. JetBlue’s st rategy was to be a company that would combine the low fares of a discount airline carrier with the comforts similar to a den in people’s homes.Passengers could save money while they ate gourmet snacks, sat in leather seats, and watched television. The goal overall, was to bring humanity back to air travel. 3. Discuss Jet Blue’s financial objectives and whether or not the company has been successful in achieving these objectives. JetBlue was a discount airline carrier, offering passengers low fares, point to point systems, and maintained quick turnaround times at airports. Its operating costs were low, especially in comparison to other major airlines.The company’s turnaround time was 20-30 minutes, because they did not serve meals, meaning they did not have to wait for catering services; flight attendants stowed carry-on bags in overhead bins, and everyone on staff helped to throw away the trash after each flight. The company’s organizational culture was a strong one, and it achieved extraordinary results by implementing five steps: defining the company values, hire employees that mirrored company values, exceed employee xpectations, listen to customers, and create the organizational culture. First step; defining the company’s values: safety, caring, integrity, fun and passion. These values guided the decision making process for employees. Safety was a number one priority, and to exhibit their commitment to safety, JetBlue teamed up with Medaire Inc. , so that crew members could immediately consult with land based physicians anytime a passenger fell ill; it was also the first airline to install Kevlar cockpit doors and surveillance cameras.Step two was to hire employees that mirrored the company’s values. During the hiring process, JetBlue wanted to hear that a candidate had done something special for someone else. The third and fourth steps involved ensuring that the company continued to exceed employee expectations an d to ensure that it listened to its customers. The final step in creating the company’s organizational culture was to create a culture of excellence; the company had to continually improve its services and set itself apart from its competitors.Jet Blue’s strategies for 2008 and beyond included following several new strategies: To reevaluate the ways the company was using its assets, reduce capacity and cut costs, raise fares and grow in select markets, offer improved services for corporations and business travelers, form strategic partnerships, and increase ancillary revenues. (Thompson, Jr. , Strickland, III. , Gamble, 2010). During the deployment of these strategies, Jet Blue further laid out their plans.To reduce capacity and cut costs, JetBlue agreed to sell nine used Airbus A320s in 2008, which netted a cash gain of $100 million. The company delayed the delivery of 21 new Airbus A320s, which were scheduled for 2009-2011, to 2014 and 2015. This allowed JetBlue to p ut off payment for the airplanes, and save on operating expenses. (Thompson, Jr. , et al; C-72). The company suspended service in and out of several states, and cancelled plans for service between Los Angeles International Airport and Boston and New York.Doing so helped save money on fuel expenses. JetBlue started to employ their plan to grow in selective markets, and raise its fares. In March 2008, JetBlue announced that Orlando would become a focus city, and that it would open service between Orlando and Cancun, Mexico, as well as Orlando and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This would become tentatively approved to be Orlando’s only service to South America. Also in March 2008, JetBlue’s average one-way fare reached a high of $138.This was still very competitive with other airline carriers. According to the U. S. Department of Transportation, the average domestic fare in 2007 was $331. JetBlue made efforts to appeal to business travelers by introducing refundable fares, and allowed corporate meeting planners to receive meeting specific discounts as well as a complimentary travel certificate for every 40 customers booked to the same event destination. The company entered into a five-year agreement with Expedia Inc. to reach leisure travelers.The goal of forming strategic partnerships was achieved when it developed an agreement with Aer Lingus that let passengers make a single reservation between Ireland and 40 different destinations in the U. S, via JetBlue’s hub John F Kennedy international airport. It also developed a marketing partnership with the Massachusetts based Cape Air, so passengers could transfer between the two carriers to get to places such as Hyannis, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. References http://www. flightglobal. com/news/articles/interview-jetblue-chief-executive-dave-barger-345289/

Lean Production Toyotas Secret Weapon - 1314 Words

Book Summary The Story of Lean Production – Toyota’s Secret Weapon in the Global Car Wars That is Revolutionizing World Industry In the beginning of the book, the authors generally introduce three kinds of the worldwide industry in its production system’s development from the very first one to the newest approach, which are craft production, mass production, and lean production respectively. The Industry of Industries in Transition. they look through the history of the automobile manufacturing by spelling out Henry Ford and Alfred Sloan, who left behind the old-fashioned type of production, craft production, and began a new age of the world manufacture with mass production. Also, they mention about Eiji Toyoda and Taiichi Ohno, who initially started the conception, â€Å"lean production†, which, nowadays, has been seeking by manufacturers of all kind of industries on over the world. In addition, the writers provide a quick view in the comparison among craft production, mass production, and lean production in which they point out the drawbacks of craft production, the obstacles of mass production, and the advantages of lean production. The author emphasize that no lean manufacturer has ever reached the ideal target of lean production, but they will continuously attempt to gain the perfections of lean production. This section, additionally, represents the impact of lean production on the professional careers and the working condition of employees these days. In the end of thisShow MoreRelatedThe Story Of Lean Production : Toyota s Secret Weapon951 Words   |  4 PagesBook Summary In the book â€Å"The Story of Lean Production – Toyota’s Secret Weapon in the Global Car Wars That is Revolutionizing World Industry†, published in 2007, James P. Womack, Daniel T. 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