A Cut Above the Rest

Published On: May 7, 2017 03:07 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


Securing a foothold of nearly 65% of the market share in the competitive domestic segment, Buddha Air has consistently grown ever since its inception in 1997. An organization that proudly boasts a 100% Nepali workforce, Buddha Air has managed to position itself as one of the leading private organizations in Nepal. What makes it stand out from the rest? Well, the way the organization is managed is definitely one its key differentiating factors.

 

800 staffs is a huge number for any organization. But what is fascinating is how well the staffs that are spread cross the 5 departments synchronize seamlessly to contribute to the organization’s mission. At any given day, all 800 staffs can be seen working passionately to ensure a joyous flight for the customers. Of course, each department has its own specific function to address to, regardless of whether they are directly or indirectly related to the flights. Say at 2 pm on a random workday at Buddha Air, the technical team may be working on a routine check of the Beechcraft 1900D at the hangar. The operations team could be doing a daily inspection for the ATR-72500 before its scheduled flight to Dhangadhi later in the day. The marketing team may be spilt into teams for different tasks like assisting check-in for the customers at the counter and conducting ground operation like boarding customers for their flight. A dedicated Management Information System (MIS) team maybe working on ensuring the Oracle and Java-based software that coordinates ticket sales runs without hassle.  The human resource department could be working on hiring new staff to mobilize the purchase of the recently bought ATR-72500. The finance department may be looking into filing tax returns and regulating cost controls to ensure a clean and transparent audit record.

 

Although each of these five departments has their own set of goals contributing to the larger organizational mission, they are all inter-linked. How does that work? If a certain flight cannot take off due to a technical issue, it would affect all departments. The technical team would need to look into the issue. The marketing department would need to inform customers regarding the delay or cancellation after consultation with the operations team. This would, in turn, affect revenue collection and also have implications on how resources are mobilized for necessary checks and maintenance. Changes would also need to be incorporated into the information systems for review. It is, therefore, commendable how the corporate organization in place is well equipped to swiftly coordinate systems across all departments to ensure seamless operations.

 

Buddha Air’s priority has always been to ensure high-quality service with optimized efficiency. But beyond operations, accountability and transparency to the larger society are also equally important. This is evident, as Buddha Air is known to be one of the largest taxpaying organizations in Nepal. In giving back to the society, Buddha Air’s corporate social responsibility is centered toward contributing to a better and sustainable environment. Recently, efforts have been aimed at assisting rural farmers to increase their cereal crop yields. Through Nepal Krishi Company, a non-profit organization, Buddha Air has been able to help organize small farmers into large-scale economy cooperatives that provide solutions to their problems.

 

In 20 years of trusted flying, Buddha Air has gone from strength to strength. With a positive outlook on continual improvement and investment in the right personnel in striving for perfection, it comes as no surprise that the 'Buddha Air Way' of managing is a benchmark for Nepalese organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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