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STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS : QANTAS
Company Overview
Qantas was founded in 1920, in Queensland outback and has now grown to become Australia’s largest international and domestic airline. It operates flights that are regional, domestic and international through its various airline brands . Qantas Airways Limited is part of the larger Qantas Group which include subsidiary businesses such as Qantaslink, JetStar, Qantas Holidays, Q Catering, Qantas Freight and Express Ground Handling. Qantas currently has a 143 strong fleet which flies to around 41 destinations around the world. Qantas also employs 35,700 people with 93 percent based in Australia ,being true to their slogan and representing the Spirit of Australia (http://www.qantas.com.au). Qantas is registered as a private company limited by shares. Its major stakeholders can be considered as its shareholders, employees, customers, business partners and community. They also have indirect stakeholders in the form of academics, media persons and government and non governmental organizations all of whom impact the company’s business strategies and thereby its performance (Aulenbach, 2007)
Strategic SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Qantas has a strong home base in Australia, which has been built over the years especially with its domestic services handling 65% of all domestic market. In Australia, 18% of all international traffic is through Qantas.
Qantas’s partnership with other airlines such as American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air Jordanian, Singapore Airlines through Oneworld Alliance where passengers are given incentives for flying with member airlines and allowing them also to make easy transfers on connecting flights. This strategically helps the airline cut costs by helping each other in terms of marketing, online ticketing facilities and maintenance and using it to provide value for customers.
Qantas approach of diversifying business by expanding into various budgeted airlines and also ancillary activities within the airlines industry gives it an economical edge of stability and also internal resourcefulness. For example: Qantas Group owns Q Catering which is a business unit that helps centralize meal production for the aviation industry . This allows for Qantas to save on costs and additional logistics involved in hiring external catering for their needs.
The advantage of being a home grown national airline and its almost 100 years of experience in Australian aviation is one of its strengths as it gives them irreplaceable experience, strong local reputation and also leading in technology and services.
Weaknesses
Recent reports of engine malfunctions and issues of air safety can negatively affect their image in terms of being reliability and safety and might cause a downward plunge in sales.
The industrial dispute that resulted in Qantas grounding and bringing to a halt all its operations in Oct 2011 created a massive loss for the company that had repercussions. This action can possibly lead to unrest among their employees and a general dissatisfaction within its working force. The company was also hit by a strike in 2009 which caused major delays and inconvenience,
Opportunities
Qantas has the opportunity to expand its international operations into untapped markets in Asia and far east where there are emerging hubs and potential hubs are being established. A recent development has been a deal signed with China Eastern to plan a low cost carrier for that region.
The strong Australian dollar gives Qantas an advantage over its other international competitors.
Its dominance in the domestic market is an opportunity they can exploit to their advantage.
Threats
The main threat is the possibility of pro-australia air bills being passed which will result in Qantas having to cut services and jobs and focus its main activity within Australia itself. This would according to the CEO Alan Joyce curb their freedom to be competitive when they need it the most to adapt and survive.
Rising fuel costs which have risen 26% in the last quarter of 2011 is proving to pose a threat to its operational cost budget.
The rise of low cost carriers and its popularity in the growing hubs of the Middle East and Asia are proving to bring down demand
High competition that Qantas has to face in the international market and main emerging hubs especially from other government backed airlines in these regions.
Instructions Remember that there are no exams in this course, so use this writing assignment as an opportunity to show what y
Sociology of Education
Fall 2020
Dr. Arend
Application Paper #3
4-5 pages
Instructions: Remember that there are no exams in this course, so use this writing assignment as an opportunity to show what you learned.
Sociologists of education often reflect on the dual role that education plays in society, as both a source of social change and of the reproduction of social inequality. Reflect on this paradox in relation to higher education. How does it perpetuate social inequality? How is it a source of social change? What would you recommend for improving its potential? Remember to use the assigned reading and videos on stratification in higher ed (between and within colleges and universities), neoliberalism, and student loans. You are also welcome to include additional sources where needed, but make sure they are reputable or scholarly sources, such as a peer-reviewed sociology journal. Make sure to cite your sources when quoting or paraphrasing and include a works cited section. You should also take care to have an introduction that includes a statement of your main point or thesis and a conclusion that sums up your work.
Grading Rubric
A:
Answers the specific central questions that were asked. (They do not have to be answered one after another. Organizing them into a coherent whole or a way that makes sense for your particular issues is fine.)
Incorporates pertinent information from assigned reading, including relevant quotations
Maintains focus/avoids being sidetracked
Presents information clearly and in an organized manner
Avoids merely restating the question with a short response
Good grammar and spelling
B:
Answers the specific central questions that were asked, but not as well as an “A” paper
Incorporates material from the assigned reading, but not as thoroughly as an “A” paper
Usually maintains focus, but may occasionally digress from the specific topic
Presents information fairly clearly, but may have minor organizational problems
Does more than restate the question and offer a brief response
May contain a few distracting grammar/spelling/etc. problems
C:
Addresses the questions in part, but not fully or directly or does not address all required elements.
Does not adequately incorporate information from assigned readings, and may rely on unsupported statements or generalities. Does not include quotations.
Sometimes strays from the specific topic (more often than a “B” essay)
Presents information in a manner that is sometimes unclear, and/or has significant organization problems
May merely restate the questions and offer brief, undeveloped responses
May tell a story about their engagement with the assignment rather than following directions.
May contain a few or a significant number of distracting grammar/spelling/etc. problems.
D:
Does not directly address the questions asked or does so incorrectly.
Does not incorporate information from assigned readings, or does so minimally and/or irrelevantly.
Substantially digresses from the specific topic
Has significant problems with clarity, concision, and organization, making the information presented difficult for the reader to understand
May merely restate the questions and offer irrelevant or undeveloped responses
May contain substantial distracting grammar/spelling/etc. problems that muddle the information presented.
F:
Does not address the assignment instructions in any way
Does not incorporate information from assigned readings
Provides no information that can be understood or related to the specific topic
May lack any recognizable organization
May contain enough distracting grammar/spelling/etc. problems to make it substantially incomprehensible
This paper explores publications of on results from research conducted both offline and online on the role of nurses in the p
Nurses’ Role
Name
Tutor
Course
Date
Abstract
This paper explores publications of on results from research conducted both offline and online on the role of nurses in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. With almost every publication indicating that nurses play a vital role in preventing most of the health care infections, the aim is of this research is to give objective evidence of their participatory role in preventing such infections. This research will concentrate on five sources for comprehensive outlay information on how their day to day activities are largely a step towards prevention rather than cure.
Introduction
According to Surveillance of healthcare associated infections (2003), healthcare-associated infections have been defined as those infections that had not been previously diagnosed during admission but only developed during hospitalization of the patient, with a time range consideration of infections that occur 48 to 72 hours after admission and 10 days after discharge. Transmission of infection to the patient or even to the practitioner will only occur at the presence of a specific infectious bacterium and a transmitting agent.
Numerous studies have been undertaken on this topic simply because nurses are placed in a unique position to have direct contact with patients more often if not always. Their pivot role in the care, success and full recovery of patients has conspicuously high lightened their prominence in the prevention of healthcare-infections. Their significance in preventing healthcare-infections have been seen through their consistency in conduct audits and control of a decontaminated environment, hand hygiene, behavioral etiquettes and patient education, personal protective equipment’s and the leadership role in the health practice.
In many hospital domains, every healthcare administrator is entrusted with the responsibility of prevention. Quality improvement initiatives have been speared particularly on healthcare-associated infections. Infection Control Practitioners survey, calculates and reports the infection rates of certain pathogens within the units (Becker, 2005). To mitigate this, training of nurses to take control measures is immediate and effective to make sure the situation is under control. In addition, Occupational Safety and Health administration requires that all nurses and licensed practitioners undergo training on preventing blood borne pathogens exposure annually.
Nurses participate in this role by the periodic audit evaluations on safety activities within the ward. The aseptic care gives them an opportunity to mitigate these infections. Through their analysis, nurses will apply evidence based procedures on patients concerning a certain reaction and this helps in preventing hospital associated infections. They also ensure that the environment is decontaminated and all the medical tools and equipment’s have all met the safety standards. This will help regulate the transmission of pathogens.
The environment surrounding a patient in most cases is contaminated. This happens because of the pathogenic microorganisms that are shed daily from the patient’s body to his or her clothes, bedding and even the floor. This makes almost every surface be contaminated with these pathogens. This can lead to cross-transmission of pathogens either from contaminated surfaces or the. Nurses can reduce this through the use of clean and medicated equipment’s at their disposal and proper disinfection of common tools before use and after use (Child, 2004).
Hand hygiene can be viewed a simple hygiene issue but can lead hazardous implications. A simple hand wash can help prevent infections, especially when using antiseptics to clean them. Much attention has been given by nurses concerning the hand hygiene issue and it has assisted them prevent spread of microorganisms, especially through contacts with contaminated surfaces. Hands are a viable carrier and research has shown that once a nurse gets into a patient room, the hands are vulnerable to pathogen even without physical contact with the patient (Child, 2004). Nurses occasionally wash their hands to prevent transmission, others use hand gloves in every ward to mitigate the flow of pathogens. Hand washing has been regarded as a must-do health care practice by the Joint Commission Infection Control Standard for every nurse and licensed practitioner.
Extensive research done by nurses on behavioral etiquettes such as cough etiquette, has also been viewed as a struggle towards prevention of the flow of respiratory pathogens that cause influenza. Coughing and sneezing causes flow of mucous droplets in the air. Contact with the mucous membranes or the droplets in the air within the vicinity will result to infection. Nurses can help in prevention or stop of respiratory pathogens flow in the air through identifying an ailing person and putting him or her under a quarantined safe environment to stop the spread. Coughing etiquette is consistently practiced by the healthcare staff and even advice patients on the use of tissues to cover their mouths or noses while sneezing, washing hands after coming in contact with respiratory secretions, use of surgical masks to contain serious conditions, primarily when dealing with patients with highly infectious respiratory pathogens.
Nurses get so much involved in active campaigns and educative seminars on various ways to prevent infections, not only within the health facilities but also in respective homes. To help patients live a responsible lifestyle, they have been instrumental in giving them take-home advices on preventive measures to certain pathogens. Educations on etiquette, maintaining a clean environment and also on issues related to body cleanliness that will help protect you from pathogen. Currently, nurses have been seen to be on the forefront to educate youths on the use of condoms to practice safe sex. This helps in prevention of sexually transmitted infections not only in the health sectors but outside the health units.
Nurses also prevent transmission of diseases through the use of protective equipment’s while handling patients, such as the use of gloves to administer wounds. Particularly on intravenous therapy, they can protect themselves against infections by using sterile fields, masks and even gowns. This personal protective equipment’s used by nurses prevents exposure to contaminated grounds or areas. The gowns are worn to protect the nurse from contaminating his or her clothes with the patient and are immediately removed and cleansed thoroughly by antiseptics to ensure that every breeding microorganism is destroyed. In the presence of an outbreak, they dress in air tight gowns to help them stay safe and avoid spreading the disease to others. Their keen concern on dressing makes them replace them immediately when loosened or damp.
Leadership culture as embraced by nurses has been seen to be an essential tool in the fight against spread of pathogens. This involves communal teamwork involving all nurses together with their leaders to maintain healthy standards and ensure that all ethics are followed to the latter (Fraise, 2009). Always, the end justifies the means and if patients are successfully discharged without them being victims of healthcare-associated infections, it proves that all safety standards are upheld and maintained. Health leaders ensure that every nurse in highly educated on healthy standard issues and how to prevent infections. Nurses dedicate their efforts to make sure that all patients are safe and recover in due time without the possibilities of further complications. They strive to minimize the possibilities of errors in their nursing activities this this in turn minimizes undesired outcomes such as transmission of microorganism. The commitment to safe passage of patients by nurses helps a lot in mitigating this spread. Leadership is vital, especially in the employment of competent nurses who give proper diagnosed results and administers proper treatment to their patients. This also helps in reducing such incidents.
It is true that not all infections can be prevented but depending on the patient susceptibility, nurses have a great responsibility to prevent healthcare associated infections (Fraise, 2009). Health care facilities are filled with different microorganism pathogens that if not mitigated will end up bringing complications to every visitor in the facility. Many bacteria’s are transmitted through contact and nurses can help prevent this through maintaining a clean environment and use of protective gears to prevent exogenous contact with disease causing pathogens, Health education to patients to make them become aware and take responsibility of their health through making preventive measures as their daily routine and To help reduce the microbial load, they should ensure proper use of protective gears and wash their hands immediately they are done. It is without a doubt that nurses’ role in prevention and mitigation of healthcare-associated infections can not be ignored and their contributions; once successfully enforced, should be acknowledged and credited.
References
Becker C. (2005) Full disclosure. CDC to give guidelines for reporting infection rates. Modal Health; 35(9):8-9.
Child, A. P. (2004). Keeping patients safe transforming the work environment of nurses. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Fraise, A. P. (2009). Ayliffe’s Control of healthcare-associated infection: a practical handbook. (5. Ed.). London: Hodder Arnold.
Healthcare associated infections 2011 report to the Washington State Legislature.. (2011). Olympia, Wash.: Washington State Dept. of Health.
Reducing healthcare associated infections in hospitals in England: report. (2009). London: TSO
Surveillance of healthcare associated infections. (2003). London: Dept. of Health.
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