Alitalia – The failure of a national carrier

The paper examines the case of Alitalia, Italy’s former flag carrier, as a case of a state-managed failure. The history of the airline is characterized by a continuous decline in its competitive position since the progressive liberalization of the European aviation market. The root cause of this decline lies in the carrier being mainly used as a political tool rather than operating as a competitive firm. In a liberalized market this doomed Alitalia to failure, which was artificially delayed by numerous state financial and regulatory interventions. The paper starts with a historical overview of the most important events in recent Alitalia history. Thereafter the main causes of the airline’s weak competitive position relative to other European carriers are analyzed. We argue that the underlying causes of the decline were continuous political protection, lack of strategic views in favor of short-term objectives, and poor managerial decisions.     

Managing lumpy demand for aircraft spare parts

This paper deals with effective forecasting methods for typically lumpy demand for aircraft spare parts, and analyzes the behavior of forecasting techniques when dealing with lumpy demand. Twenty forecasting techniques are considered and tested and historical data from Alitalia are used to analyze and compare their performance. The results demonstrate that item lumpiness is the dominant parameter and show that demand forecasting for lumpy items is a complex problem; results from previous studies are not very accurate. The best approaches are found to be weighted moving averages, the Croston method, and exponentially weighted moving average models.     

Shipping design for compliance and the performance contingencies for shipping firms

Increasing number of shipping firms adopt green shipping practices that emphasize environmental management throughout their operations. To balance productivity with the environment, the design of shipping activities in compliance with energy saving and resources conversation is an important part of greening efforts by many shipping firms. This study investigates how the green practices on shipping design for compliance (SDC) adopted by shipping firms is related to their financial and service performance with the role of company policy and procedures and shipper cooperation examined. We find that SDC is beneficial for the financial and service performance of shipping firms. Based on the contingency theory, we argue further that company policy and procedure as well as shipper cooperation differentiates the performance outcomes of shipping firms in their SDC for environmental management. Our empirical findings show a positive relationship of SDC with service performance particularly when their company policy and procedure and shipper cooperation are characterized at high than low levels in the process. However, such strengthening effects are not found for the relationship between SDC and the financial performance of shipping firms.     

Route-based data envelopment analysis models

This paper proposes two novel route-based data envelopment analysis (DEA) models that jointly measure the route-level and company-level efficiencies amongst transport carriers. The core logics comprise a three-stage procedure that determines company efficiency, route efficiency and optimal allocation ratios for the common inputs. We prove that the ranking order of company performance determined by the route-based DEA model is identical to that determined by the company-based DEA model. An empirical case demonstrates the superiority of the proposed models in identifying the less efficient routs/companies as well as in reducing the input slacks without subjective conjectures.     

Loading optimization of palletized products on trucks

In this paper we analyze the application of an optimization model to solve problems of arranging products (packed in boxes) on pallets, and arranging loaded pallets on trucks. Initially the model is applied to solve thousands of randomly generated experiments. Then, in order to assess the effectiveness of the solutions in practice, the model is applied to two Brazilian case studies: a food company distribution center and a large wholesale distribution center. We also discuss the use of this approach for optimizing the sizes of packages, pallets and trucks. In particular, we analyze the performance of the Brazilian standard pallet (PBR), adopted by the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (ABRAS) and recommended by the Brazilian Logistics Association (ASLOG), in comparison with other standard pallets. By examining not only the loading of products on pallets, but also the loading of pallets on trucks, we can obtain global utilization indices which are useful to evaluate the economical performance of unit load systems in the logistics chain of a company.     

The planning and real-time adjustment of courier routing and scheduling under stochastic travel times and demands

This study develops a planning and a real-time adjustment model to plan courier routes and schedules in an urban area and to adjust the planned routes in actual operations. The stochastic travel time aspect of the problem has been addressed at both the planning stage and the operation stage. A heuristic is developed to efficiently solve the stochastic real-time adjustment model and a simulation-based evaluation method is also developed to compare the performance of the proposed models. The test results, related to an international express company’s operations, show the good performance of the proposed models.     

The impact of company-car taxation policy on travel behavior

This paper explores the impact of company car taxation on travel behavior. It focuses on a nationwide case study in Israel, which experienced a massive growth in the extent of company cars and which has implemented various policy changes in the taxation of company cars. A survey of 400 employees who have a company car and 230 employees who have only a privately owned car clearly points out the significant impact exerted by company cars on travel behavior, negatively affecting sustainable transportation development. The practice of and taxation policy in regard to the company car result in considerable extra mileage and encourage car usage by the employee's entire household. Changes in the taxation of a company car as well as in employer's policy toward company car usage may bring about a significant change in drivers' decisions regarding the willingness to have a company car and their travel behavior.     

Strategy and organization at Singapore Airlines: Achieving sustainable advantage through dual strategy

Singapore Airlines has consistently outperformed its competitors throughout its history, in the context of an unforgiving industry environment. We examine how Singapore Airlines has achieved its outstanding performance and sustained its competitive advantage, through effectively implementing a dual strategy: differentiation through service excellence and innovation, together with simultaneous cost leadership in its peer group. We examine the organizational elements that have allowed the company to do so, illustrate its strategic alignment using a vertical alignment framework, and conclude by highlighting the significant challenges ahead.     

京沪高铁运营效益研究

京沪高铁开通运营以来,客运量持续增长,运输收入快速递增,并作为优质资产在2020年成功上市,成为中国高铁运营管理的标杆。采用财务分析和项目评价等实证分析方法,对京沪高铁运营十年以来的运输绩效进行研究,剖析京沪高铁公司快速盈利的原因,并对未来京沪高铁运营效益前景进行展望。     

Concurrent design of product family and supply chain network considering quality and price

We study the problem of concurrent design of a product family and its supply chain (SC) network. Inspired by a real-life case in computer industry, the impact of quality and price in SC demand is investigated. Two different models are proposed, the former maximizes the company’s profit with respect to customers’ priorities on quality and price; the latter is a bi-objective programming, which consider two extreme customer groups: for one group quality has the highest priority and for the other price; the intermediate groups falls between these two. The performance of the models is analyzed through a case problem.     

合资铁路深化混合所有制改革研究

合资铁路是我国铁路行业实施混合所有制改革的先驱者,由于不断增大的投资需求,吸纳社会资本不足、财务风险高、经营机制落后等问题,合资铁路进一步深化混合所有制改革突破发展瓶颈。从合资铁路投资政策现状出发,阐述深化合资铁路混合所有制改革的问题及难点。在此基础上,重点分析合资铁路混合所有制改革,提出深化合资铁路混改基本原则,以机构投资者、一般法人资本、员工持股计划、政府引导基金和境外资本5类社会资本为主,分析潜在社会资本匹配度,加大力度吸引社会资本参与合资铁路投资建设。     

Commercialisation and airport performance: The case of Ireland's DAA

Airport performance has been the subject of an increasing volume of empirical research in recent years. This paper bridges a gap in the existing literature through an in-depth case study analysis of the process of commercialisation in the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Ireland's state-owned airport company, and the corresponding impact on performance over the 1994–2014 period. We use a model of commercialisation to examine changes in the DAA's internal and external environments that show evidence of a more commercial focus. The DAA's economic performance is then analysed using total factor productivity (TFP) and labour productivity indicators, as well as basic financial indicators. Our analysis highlights the significant internal and external changes experienced by the DAA over the past two decades that have driven a continuous process of commercialisation. While TFP growth was positive or stable in half of the years that we examined, the overall level of TFP declined over our timeframe of analysis. Much of this decline was due to two considerable programmes of investment in long-lived infrastructure assets where a return in the short-term would not be expected.     

运用灰色关联度法评价铁路客运企业形象

在论述铁路客运企业内涵的基础上,建立铁路客运企业形象的评价指标体系。运用灰色关联度评价模型结合铁路第四、第五次列车提速,对铁路客运企业形象进行综合评价。运用该方法可以对铁路客运企业的形象指标进行定量评价,从而为提升企业形象提供科学的分析依据。     

A model for projecting flight delays during irregular operation conditions

On-time performance of airlines schedule is key factor in maintaining current customer satisfaction and attracting new ones. This requires management of the different operation resources (crew/aircraft) to ensure their on-time readiness for each flight in the planned schedule. However, flight schedules are often subjected to irregularity. In particular, weather accounts for nearly 75% of system delays. Due to the tight connection among airlines resources, these delays could dramatically propagate over time and space unless the proper recovery actions are taken. This paper presents a model which projects flight delays and alerts for possible future breaks during irregular operation conditions. The results of applying the model at the operation control center of a major airlines company in the US are presented.     

关于合资铁路委托管理问题的思考

回顾武夷山铁路有限责任公司经营模式变迁历程，结合当前公司实行委托经营存在的问题，探讨合资铁路公司如何通过明确受托责任、强化收入激励、硬化成本约束等措施，完善委托管理模式，进行合资铁路公司体制机制创新，推动合资铁路公司健康发展。     

Dynamic DEA models with network structure: An application for Iranian airlines

Efficiency estimation of interdependent divisions within a company or assessing the interrelated processes in a production system provides insights for improving the operational performance. Recent developments in network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) models enable decision making units (DMUs) to be informed of inefficient processes within the system. The NDEA model assesses the processes of the system in a specific moment and ignores the dynamic effects within the production processes. Thus, without considering the temporal dimension of production processes, biased efficiency measurement will be obtained that provides misleading information to DMUs. For evaluating the performance of a DMU with interrelated processes during specified multiple periods, this paper proposes a relational dynamic NDEA (DNDEA) model which measures the efficiencies of the system and its internal processes over the time, simultaneously. To illustrate the capability of the proposed model, this study for the first time measures the efficiency of eight Iranian airlines in several periods connected to each other by carry over flows. The actual data is gathered in three periods from 2010 to 2012 and the results are compared with the dynamic DEA and network DEA models in the same time span.     

新体制下规范和加强合资铁路公司股权管理的探讨

股权管理是国铁股东规范和加强合资铁路公司管理的重要组成部分，也是管理的重要依据。结合股权管理的基本内涵和要求，简要分析当前国铁股东开展股权管理存在的困难和不足，从股权管理的制度体系、股权行使、决策机制、管理职责、保值增值、经营开发和政策支持等方面，探讨基于新体制下规范和加强合资铁路公司股权管理的体制机制建设，推动合资铁路公司持续健康发展。     

How company and managerial characteristics influence strategic alliance adoption in the travel sector

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of company and executive characteristics in strategic alliance formation in the tourism sector of travel. A survey of Australian travel sector businesses was carried out and the results indicate a high level of interaction through alliances between various sectors of the Australian tourism industry. Top managers' characteristics (experience, ownership and risk‐taking attitude) were found to be influential in taking strategic decisions of whether to form alliances or not. These characteristics do not play an important role in determining the number of alliances an organisation has and their geographical location, as much as company characteristics do. The findings of this paper imply that company characteristics are important in determining alliance formation. Managers should thoroughly consider these characteristics when deciding not only to form alliances, but also the types of alliances that could help their organisations to be more competitive, given limited resources. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The potential of horizontal collaboration in airport ground freight services

Since the global economic crisis of 2007–2011, the increasingly dynamic and challenging air cargo market in Europe has forced freight forwarders to improve their performance. In addition to improving their internal transport efficiency, they have also started to look at previously unexplored opportunities for horizontal collaboration in landside airport transport. The aim of this study is to reveal the potential of air cargo transport collaboration on a horizontal level, i.e. between multiple freight forwarders within a single airport. Reviewing existing literature on horizontal collaboration, with a focus on the air cargo industry, we propose a conceptual framework for transport collaboration in the air cargo industry. Based on a comprehensive study on air cargo transport movements within Schiphol, using a simulation model based on company data of 10,747 shipments (6977 tons of cargo) for a period of 30 days, we find several interesting results. Our main finding is that horizontal collaboration can improve the transport performance, by maintaining a high frequency of transport movements and maintaining an acceptable throughput time for air cargo shipments, and at the same time reduce transport costs by up to 40%. For smaller freight forwarders, the frequency of transport deliveries can even increase, while still allowing them to improve the average load factor of transport movements.     

铁路企业辅业改制存在的法律问题与对策

随着铁路企业改革的发展，已经初步实现了辅业与运输主业的分离，辅业在逐步实现向国有独资公司制的转变。但目前许多改革措施并没有实现预期的效能，产权关系、母子公司结构、劳动关系转换、干部管理机制、法人治理结构等存在着诸多的法律问题，通过对这些问题的分析提出有关参考建议。