...Case Study – Denver International Airport Baggage Handling System – An illustration of ineffectual decision making Synopsis Dysfunctional decision-making is the poison that kills technology projects and the Denver Airport Baggage System project in the 1990’s is a classic example. Although several case studies have been written about the Denver project, the following paper re-examines the case by looking at the key decisions that set the project on the path to disaster and the forces behind those decisions. Background What was to be the world’s largest automated airport baggage handling system became a classic story in how technology projects can go wrong. Faced with the need for greater airport capacity, the city of Denver elected to construct a new state of the art airport that would cement Denver’s position as an air transportation hub. Covering a land area of 140 Km2, the airport was to be the largest in the United States and have the capacity to handle more than 50m passengers annually. The airport's baggage handling system was a critical component in the plan. By automating baggage handling, aircraft turnaround time was to be reduced to as little as 30 minutes. Faster turnaround meant more efficient operations and was a cornerstone of the airports competitive advantage. Despite the good intentions the plan rapidly dissolved as underestimation of the project’s complexity resulted in snowballing problems and public humiliation for everyone involved. Thanks mainly to...
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...Denver Airport Fiasco Presentation Timeline I will start by finishing up the timeline. * In April 1994, the airport authorities organize a demonstration of the system for the media without informing BAE. It’s a disaster as clothes are ejected from crushed bags. As a result, the mayor of Denver is forced to delay the opening for the fourth time. * In May of the same year, BAE says the system is fine and that most of the problems are caused by the airport staff using the system incorrectly. The problems persist as testing continues so the airport builds a manual tug and trolley system instead. * In august, the City of Denver starts fining BAE 12 thousand dollars per day for further delays. * The airport finally opens on February 28th 1995 using part of the BAE system and a manual tug and trolley. * Finally, in 2005, the system fully scrapped for the manual one. Software Issues Next I will discuss the main software issues. * One of the system’s big problems was that carts were late to pick up bags, destabilizing the whole chain. This was, in part, due to the mathematical nightmare that represented the development of a line-balancing algorithm to feed carts at more than 100 pickup points. * It was also due to the fact that BAE’s codes expected perfect behavior from the system components. They didn’t allow for proper margins of error. The components were expected to perform better than they did. * Another major cause of software...
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...Denver, Colorado Governmental Accounting 407 Denver, Colorado Denver was founded by William H. Larimer, Jr. on November 22, 1858 and named for James W. Denver. It is the largest city and second largest county in the state of Colorado, and it is also the capitol. “The mile-high city” is the nickname for Denver, Colorado because its official elevation is exactly one mile above sea level benchmarked from the steps of the State Capitol Building. The climate in Denver is very sunny averaging around 300 days of sunshine a year, but because of its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, it is subject to sudden weather changes. Snowfall is common in late fall, winter, and spring which make Colorado a popular ski destination. Denver has many outdoor activities, sports venues, and museums so there is always something to keep you entertained. In the metropolitan area, Denver has Sports Authority Field (Broncos), Coors Field (Rockies), Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Rapids), and the Pepsi Center (Nuggets and Avalanche). Denver is very bicycle friendly, and one of the most walkable metropolitan areas in the nation. The economy in Denver is partially reliant on its connection to major transportation systems because of its geographic location. Denver is located between large western cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego and large Midwestern cities such as Chicago and St. Louis. Denver’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes it ideal for mining and energy companies. Denver resides in...
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...Art Museum Critique- Denver A few weekends ago I decided that out of all of the museums and galleries I could choose to visit I really wanted to go to the Denver Art Museum. I wanted to go there because of a few different reasons. One of the reasons is that my husband and I live very close to the neighborhood so we could walk and enjoy the weather and gorgeous scenery that Denver has to offer. Another reason being that my best girlfriend, Lindsey, lives nearby and she could tag along with us for the day. Finally, the last time I had been to the DAM was back in middle school when I really didn’t appreciate what great artwork was offered there and some teenagers don’t really value the meaning of beautiful art and what the museum has to offer. There was so much to view throughout the museum that it really was hard to decide what artwork I could pick to write about. The very first piece that really caught my eye was on the 4th floor and the first piece through the doors of the exhibit. Displayed ahead was El Anatsui’s exhibition of international contemporary pieces called When I Last Wrote to You about Africa. Oasis, was one of the few “curtain-like” sculptures that I spent the most time looking at. Created in 2008, El Anatsui is a Ghanaian sculptor who is widely known for his sculptures that relate to African history and colonial experiences. From far away I feel like the artist wanted viewers to see the soft, subtle look of a woven, rippled quilt. Once I stood in front...
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...cost-effectively satisfy aviation demand, while considering potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Master Plans also provide the airport with the tools to react to uncertainties by examining key trends in the aviation industry, such as changing airline business models, improvements in technology, and local/regional economics that could affect airport activity. Master plans vary in the level of detail and complexity depending on the size, function, issues and challenges of the airports under study. FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B Airport Master Plans provides guidance for the preparation of airport master plans. Read the FAA Advisory Circular (Adobe PDF) Specific objectives of the Master Plan Update put forth by Denver International Airport (DIA) include the following: Maintain and ensure the safety and security of the Airport Emphasize customer service and satisfaction Plan for phased, incremental development that meets foreseeable aviation demands and maintains flexibility for change Maintain practical and affordable airline costs per passenger Meet sustainability and environmental requirements DIA is a fairly new airport, why is the airport completing a...
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...Table of Contents Declaration of Originality 2 Table of Figures 3 Acknowledgement 5 Abstract 6 1. Background 7 Event Daybook 9 Acknowledgement I owe my deepest gratitude to my lecturer for her supervision and support provided throughout the project. It helped me in better understanding about the subject and come up with a righteous work. Above all, I appreciate each and everyone who have supported me in any respect of completion of project. Abstract Denver International airport (DIA) is situated 23 miles northeast of downtown Denver (Colorado) with a size of 137.8 sq. km . Currently the airport handles around 41 airlines and having traffic more than 3,905,138 passengers . During the construction of the airport, implementation of an automated integrated baggage system to minimize the turnaround time was a critical component . But it turned to be one of the woeful incidents in the history of technology project implementation. The airport scheduled to open in October 1993 finally came to live on March 2005 with a delay of 16 months due to under estimation of the baggage handling system. This delay almost cost them $1.1M per day for the maintenance and loans. In March 1994, the BAE systems ran a test run in front of several media groups. The result of the test was a complete failure. The baggage were partially or completely damaged or misplaced to the wrong gate. The system was not able to cater the needs properly and thus United Airlines abandoned...
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...Denver International Airport Denver International Airport (DEN) is located 23 miles Northeast of downtown Denver Colorado. At 53 square miles it is the largest airport in the United States and the second largest airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport. Denver is also known for having one of the longest runways in the United States at 16,000 feet. DIA was built to replace the old an outdated Stapleton International Airport which was Colorado’s primary airport from 1929 to 1995. In September 1989, under the leadership of Denver Mayor, Federal Aviation officials authorized the outlay of the first $60 million for the construction of DIA. Two years later, Mayor Wellington Webb inherited the multi billion-dollar over budget megaproject, scheduled to open on October 29, 1993. Delays caused by poor planning and repeated design changes pushed the opening day back, first to December 1993, then to March and finally to May 15, 1994. In April 1994, the city invited reporters to observe the first test of the new automated baggage system. Reporters ended up watching clothing articles and personal items scattered all over the floor. The mayor cancelled the planned May 15 opening. The airport collects landing fees, rent and other revenues from the airlines to help offset its operating costs. Denver International Airport is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, but does not operate using tax dollars. Instead, the airport is an "enterprise fund" generating...
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...DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTOMATED BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM- PROJECT FAILURE ANALYSIS MSc Project Management Abstract The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the Denver International Airport Baggage Handling System project in order to detail the underlying reasons for the perceived failures in the project and to provide recommendations on how effective project management could have helped to avoid the problems the project encountered. A thorough analysis of the activities of the project from nature of project, contracting, design, construction, testing, stakeholder management, risk management, project controls, as well as the overall project leadership was carried out and failure causal factors were identified. A recommendation was also made on how the project should have been managed to ensure project success. The analysis viewed the project from both project management and project perspectives. Student: @00380661 25-Feb-14 Number of words: 2558 Table of Contents 1. 1.1 2. 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2 Project Failure .......................................................................................................... 2 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 3 Failure Modes of the Project .............................................
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...Benedictine Univeristy | Denver International Airport Baggage Handling System | MBA 683 | | Farrah R. Ansari | 10/1/2015 | | Denver International Airport Baggage Handling System The Denver International Airport, located in Denver Colorado, is the country’s largest airport based on total land area. The airport has the longest runway, is considered the 18th busiest airport in the world and the 6th busiest airport in the United States. There are nearly 53 million passengers that travel in and out of this airport. In the early 1990s the airport decided to create the world’s largest automated baggage handling system. In order to accommodate for the millions of passengers the project team felt this would be an effective project. The goal of the project was to create an automated baggage system that would reduce aircraft turnaround time to nearly 30 minutes. By reducing the turnaround time to a half an hour would allow for more efficient operations. The project team wanted to include this new system to all three concourses which included 88 airport gates. The concept of the project was well intended but poorly planned and executed by the project management team. The first flaw and biggest flaw of the project was the unrealistic scope. The project failed to set a realistic deadline or budget for the project. The deadline was exceeded by nearly 16 months, the budget by $560 million, and the overall intention of incorporate all three concourses was also not met....
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...Analysis of the Denver International Airport baggage system Michael Schloh Dan Stearns, advisor Title Abstract Contents Introduction Reasons For Automation Functionality Of Original BAE Design Problems and Solutions System Complexity Comparative Functionality Opening Delays Financial Hardship Summary Glossary References THE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTOMATED BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM by Michael Schloh Computer Science Department School of Engineering California Polytechnic State University 1996 Date Submitted: February 16, 1996 Advisor: Daniel Stearns ABSTRACT This document discusses events at the new Denver International Airport that resulted in opening delays of the airport. The scope is limited to the automated baggage handling system, which was the primary source of failure warranting the airport's several opening delays. Analysis of the failing system is comprehensive. Research is conducted using a variety of sources. The final report is published on the worldwide web. CONTENTS Introduction 1 Reasons For Automation 2 Functionality Of Original BAE Design 3 Problems and Solutions 6 System Complexity 12 Comparative Functionality 14 Opening Delays 15 Financial Hardship 17 Summary 19 Glossary 20 References 21 INTRODUCTION This research concerns the automated baggage handling system which was built by BAE Automated Systems, Incorporated of Carrollton, Texas for the Denver International Airport. The analysis of this system provides an important topic of study. From the baggage...
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...Chipotle Mexican Grill was founded in 1993 by Chef Steve Ellis in Denver Colorado. The first location was actually a former Dolly Madison Ice Cream Shop near the University of Denver. Chef Steve Ellis attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and then became a line cook at Stars in San Francisco where he witnessed the popularity of taquerias and burritos. With a dream and an $85,000 loan from his father he opened the first location. Within one month he was selling over 1,000 burritos a day. In 1995 he opened two additional locations in Denver and by 1999 more in Columbus, Ohio and Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1998 McDonald's made an investment in the company and by 2001 they had become Chipotle's largest investor. This allowed Chipotle to expand from 16 restaurants in 1998 to over 500 restaurants by 2005. As Chef Steve Ellis watched the company grow and expand he also observed how a most of the food in the United States is produced and processed. He witnessed the confinement of livestock and how they are injected with hormones to grow larger. With this, the company has adopted the philosophy, "Food with Integrity." This is a commitment to purchasing meat and produce from farmers dedicated to raising their livestock and produce using responsible and respectable practices. Chipotle Mexican Grill serves only natural raised pork and chicken. Over 85% of the beef they serve is naturally raised and 40% of the black beans they serve are certified organic. ...
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...It is a sound decision to build a new airport at Denver because of the expected passenger traffic in the year 2000. It is also necessary to transport people and goods to and from Denver since it is 500 miles from other major cities. Strengths- it would earn Denver more revenue from increased flights. Weaknesses- before the decision to build a new airport, Denver’s Stapleton Airport caused massive losses due to bad weather. With the new airport, more losses would be encountered due to bad weather. Opportunities- this would be a great opportunity to expand business investments and generate more revenue. Threats- according to the airport design, the runways were placed where they would be intercepted by high wind shears. The stakeholders are the passengers and their interests are convenience and efficiency at the airport. Denver’s regional council of governments is also a stakeholder and they wanted to improve the airport services to handle more passengers and cargo. Not all airlines supported of the decision to build a new airport. Some airlines such as United and Continental objected to the idea. United was against the construction of the Front Range airport out of fear of the added cost burden. The baggage handling system was significant because it meant that baggage would be transferred between different gates in less than ten minutes. The DIA is a good strategic fit for Continental because the airline was struggling to survive in the industry and the DIA would help boost...
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...September 18, 2012 Mr. Patrick Heck Deputy Chief Financial Officer Denver International Airport 201 West Colfax Avenue Denver, Colorado 80202 Re: The Westin Denver International Airport – Denver, Colorado Dear Mr. Heck: Pursuant to your request, we have conducted a study of the potential market demand and developed a statement of the estimated annual operating results for a proposed 519-room Westin hotel (the “Subject”) to be located at the south terminal of the Denver International Airport (“DIA”) in Denver, Colorado. Throughout this analysis, we formally refer to the Subject as The Westin Denver International Airport. The development of the Subject hotel is expected to be financed through the issuance of tax-exempt bonds coupled with some form of public subsidies/guarantees/loans. This report has been prepared for use by the Denver International Airport and its financial advisors in determining the estimated annual operating results of the proposed Subject. The conclusions set forth in this report are based on an analysis for supply and demand for the transient lodging market in the Denver-Aurora market area as of August 8, 2012, the completion date of our fieldwork and primary market research. As in all studies of this type, the estimated results assume competent and efficient marketing and operational management, and presume no significant change in the status of the competitive lodging industry from that as set forth in this report. The terms of this engagement are...
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...Chipotle first store opened in 1993 by founder and CEO Steve Ellis in Denver, Colorado, in a former Dolly Madison Ice Cream Store near the campus of University of Denver. Within five years the firm expanded to sixteen restaurants. Once McDonald’s became their largest investor they soon grow to five hundred by 2005. There are over 1000 Chipotle restaurant in the United States and approximately 10 locations outside of the United States, 5 locations in Toronto, 4 locations in London and 1 in Paris. The Chipotle mission statement created by Steve Ellis, “Food integrity is our commitment to finding the very best ingredients raised with respect for the animals, the environment and the farmers.” (Chipotle 2012). Describing key areas of the Chipotle’s Code of Conduct that are of significant importance to the business, and explain why. Chipotle is committed to the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of the company, from the food they serve to the employees, officers and all members of the Board of Directors. The key areas of the Code of Conduct are, “Integrity Statement,” “Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy,” “It’s the Law,” and “Chipotle Confidential.” All employees and Board members are required to be honest, loyal and respectful; basically do not do anything unethical, always do the right thing. Chipotle has an “open door “policy with respect to any concerns relating to the compliance with Code of Conduct with no person being subjected to...
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...Question 1: Privacy laws and regulations require medical facilities to take measurable steps to ensure the confidentiality of patient information. From this case study, can you tell what Denver Health has done to ensure the confidentiality of its patient information? Denver Health is using private cloud to ensure the confidentiality of patient information. Private cloud is the phrase used to describe a cloud computing platform that is implemented within the corporate firewall, under the control of the IT department. A private cloud implementation aims to avoid many of the objections regarding cloud computing security. Because a private cloud setup is implemented safely within the corporate firewall, a private cloud provides more control over the company’s data, and it ensures security, albeit with greater potential risk for data loss due to natural disaster. Question 2: Think about your school, how could it use the ThinIdentity solution to support the technology needs of (1) faculty and (2) students such as yourself? It can help institutions allocate consumption of resources (chargeback) by different services or departments to better prioritize IT spend. By taking advantage of the private cloud across servers, desktops, and applications, education institutions can: - reduce cost. Help reduce physical server sprawl and total cost of ownership of hardware - simplify desktop management. Provide optimal desktop solutions for different user needs, while reducing...
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