Cloud Auditing: Security and Privacy

This assignment delves into the crucial topic of cloud auditing, specifically addressing the challenges of maintaining data security and privacy in cloud computing environments. It examines various public auditing protocols designed to verify data integrity without revealing sensitive information. Students will analyze existing research on privacy-preserving auditing techniques, such as Oruta, Panda, and key-exposure resistant auditing, while exploring the economic implications of setting auditing standards within the context of cloud storage.

Decision Making and Problem
Solving

Table of Contents
TITLE- An analysis of how to be low cost carrier leader in airline industry- a case reference to
Air Asia. ..........................................................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
1.1 Company overview...............................................................................................................1
1.2 Purpose of the report.............................................................................................................2
1.3 Description and justification of problem or issue.................................................................2
1.4 Description and justification of the approaches used............................................................3
2. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ..............................................................................................4
2.1 Critical appraisal of the approach used.................................................................................4
2.2 Improvements in the approaches used..................................................................................4
2.3 Other available approaches...................................................................................................5
3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................5
3.1 Justification of the most appropriate approach.....................................................................5
3.2 Implementation of the most appropriate approach................................................................6
3.3 Summary of the key learning................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

TITLE- An analysis of how to be low cost carrier leader in airline industry- a
case reference to Air Asia.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Company overview
It can be stated that selected organization falls within airline industry and thus faces
prevailing competition in market. There are a lot of of companies engaged within the business of
air travel and therefore Air Asia focuses upon low cost travel so that they can compete with
another rivals in the industry. Company mainly segment its market into middle class people and
offer them low cost travel opportunity so that it helps in increasing the customer base of firm.
Main product/service obtained by Air Asia is air travel, frequent flyer program, onboard luggage
and in flight services so that consumers can be attracted towards firm (he Air Asia Company
Strategic management: “How AirAsia can be a leader in the lowest cost carrier in the airplane
industry”. 2009). Market position of Air Asia is that it is considered as the worlds biggest
airlines engaged in providing travel services over Asia skies. However, there are several airline
companies that are developing different strategies in regard to make the airline better and
overcome the competitors. Thus, in regard to compete with rivals business undertakes low cost
strategy and thus influence consumers towards firm which helps in enhancing the sales and
profitability of firm in market (Barton and Bruder, 2014).
Furthermore, main competitors of Air Asia are Jetstar Airways, SilkAir and Tiger
Airways etc. All these competitors are providing best air services and thus affects Air Asia that is
providing low cost carrier to passengers. Revenue earned by Air Asia is RM 5.01 billion and thus
it enhances the profitability of firm in market. Further, there are several issues faced by Air Asia
relating to noise pollution, cost minimization and environmental issues. Thus, business needs to
look over all these issues and thus focus upon overcoming the problem in regard to attain desired
results (Chaudhari and Bakal, 2015).
Here, Air Asia is selected which is a Malaysian low cost airline and possess the highest
fleet size and cover various destination all over the world. Business also focuses different
passengers and provide low cost airline so that customer base can be increased. Thus, Air Asia
faced different strategies issues relating to providing low cost carrier and leading the travel
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industry in market (Cronin and Sugimoto, 2015). Therefore, it is essential for firm to undertake
effective strategic planning so that they can overcome such issue and thus attain desired profits.
1.2 Purpose of the report
The purpose of the study is to adopt an approach in regard to carry out an analysis of the
issue regarding how to be lost cost carrier leader within airline industry. Thus, such issue needs
to be identified and overcome so that improvement within business can be carried out. Here,
there are several issue relating to high fuel cost, environmental issues and cost minimization.
Thus, cost minimization is considered as an effective issue and therefore, it is essential for firm
to become market leader while providing low cost carrier services so that they can overcome
competitors prevailing in market (Power and Gendron, 2015). Therefore, it is essential for
business to identify the prevailing issue and thus implement alternative approaches available for
company so that they can overcome the identified issue. Here, low cost carrier issue requires to
be overcome and alternative approach adopted by business is that providing quality services to
customers in regard to make effective decision. Further, the identified issue faced by Air Asia
conducts an effective analysis of the approach and thus in regard to provide low cost carrier
services offering best product or service quality in regard to address the problem faced by firm so
that best results can be attained (Wang, Li and Li, 2012).
1.3 Description and justification of problem or issue
1) In the current era of competition, where there are various competitors prevailing in
market and providing different quality services or products to customers. Thus, it
identifies that Air Asia is prevailing the issue of low cost fare and thus business is
expanding rapidly since 2001 in order to attain organizational goals and objectives. Thus,
top management of business aims to overcome this strategic problem and make a
decision regarding providing low cost services but increasing the capacity of fleet so that
brand image can be increased (Wang, Li and Li, 2015).
2) Top management of Air Asia identifies the prevailing issue through assessing that
business is facing several issues in relation to noise pollution, environmental issue, cost
minimization and high fuel cost etc, Thus, among them they identify that while providing
low cost carrier firm is facing issue regarding becoming the market leader and
overcoming tough competition in market (Wang and et. al., 2013). Thus, it is essential for
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firm to identify the reviews and opinion of customers regarding travel services provided
by Air Asia and if needed they can improve the same to become the market leader.
3) The issue of becoming market leader by providing low cost services is the big problem
and thus it needs to be overcome so that best results can be attained. Thus, it is essential
for firm to assess that it is one of the main problem faced by firm and thus it affects the
market share of firm. Such issue affects mainly Air Asia as there are various rivals
operating in market providing different services to consumers at competitive prices
(Yang and Jia, 2013). Further, business involves outsourcing strategy that incurs more
financial losses and require different resources so that best results can be attained. Also, it
impacts upon the consumers in the form that firm decreases the number of fleet size and
also reducing flight number which impacts consumers in the form of selecting another
airline company for travelling. It also impacts market, revenue and profit of Air Asia as it
decreases in regard to assess the issue of overcoming the problem an becoming market
leader (Ye and Simunic, 2013).
4) Such issue occurred due to prevailing competition in airline industry and thus Air Asia
faces the issue of becoming market leader while providing low cost carrier services to
customers. Therefore, it is essential for firm to overcome such issue and thus attain
desired results in the form of becoming market leader (Yu and et. al., 2015).
1.4 Description and justification of the approaches used
Air Asia uses effective strategic management approach that helps in improving the cost
minimization issue and thus overcome the issues so that best results can be attained. Such issue
helps in improving the business performance so that they can attract large number of customers
towards firm and enhance market share of firm. Cited firm concentrated upon cost leadership
issue and thus believes in no frills, hassle free, low fare business concept so that keeping low
cost helps in improving high efficiency within every part of firm (Zadek, Evans and Pruzan,
2013). Through increasing the efficiency it helps in providing best comfortable services to guests
and thus attain desired results. However, it is not essential for companies to disclose the
approach they have used. It could be used at the top management level and even employees
working within firm are not aware about the fact that business is using strategies for
minimization cost and attracting large consumer base (Goldsmith, 2015). Thus, it would help in
improving market share and thus provide information to consumers regarding the used strategy
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that would help them to improve business goals and thus success can be attained. However,
business uses ethical approach that helps them to provide lost cost fares to consumers and
attracts them towards business in order to enhance sales and profitability in market. Thus, it can
be stated that using such method through which lowering the cost would result in benefiting the
firm and thus enhance market share.
2. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
2.1 Critical appraisal of the approach used
It can be assessed that the approach used is cost leadership and thus it is effective as it
helps in improving the business performance so that best results can be attained. However, it is
significant for business to implement the approach and thus provide better quality product or
service to consumers. Main strengths of such theory is that it assists in improving the customer
base and enhance brand image of firm in market. Therefore, it is essential for enterprise to focus
upon enhancing consumer base (Frensch and Funke, 2014). While, the weaknesses faced by
implementing such approach is that it affects consumers as they possess different other options
available in market delivering similar quality services. As such there was no mistake made while
implementing the approach of cost leadership, firm adopts such approach in regard to become
market leader and thus improves market share within firm. Also, implementing ethical approach
is suitable, acceptable, feasible and appropriate so that desired quality products or services could
be delivered to clients in market. Thus, it can be stated that cost leadership is considered as an
effective approach that helps in improving business performance in market and attain success
(Hwang and Yoon, 2012).
It can be evaluated that cost leadership is one of the effective approach that needs to be
implemented within firm and thus improves business performance in market. In such competitive
market, airline businesses such as Air Asia focuses upon influencing customers to travel from
their airlines by providing them the best quality services at low cost. Thus, it is considered as one
of the low cost airlines and develops their brand image in market. Also, it helps firm to make
effective decision making which results in attaining high market share and gain profits. Air Asia
implements such strategy within firm which helps them to improve their performance in market
and thus achieve overall goals.
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2.2 Improvements in the approaches used
It is essential for Air Asia to improve the cost leadership strategy and provide appropriate
improvements within the approaches so that success can be attained. In such competitive
environment, it is essential for firm to improve the effectiveness and thus overcome limitations
and weaknesses so that better quality products or services could be delivered to consumers and
thus enhances the sales and profitability of firm in market (The Air Asia Company Strategic
management: “How AirAsia can be a leader in the lowest cost carrier in the airplane industry”.
2009). Also, ethical approach is considered as an effective method through which firm
performance in market could be enhanced. Further, limitations faced by business in relation to
not providing any additional services such as no frills, no connecting flights, no paper tickets, no
VIP lounges etc, helps firm to save its cost and provide low cost services to consumers. Thus, it
is essential for Air Asia to improve its approaches within competitive market so that they can
enhance business performance and thus improve operational activities so that sales can be
improved. Further, it is crucial for enterprise to focus upon effective strategy that assists in
improving business effectiveness and thus result in ensuring competitive cost for services
provided (Goldsmith, 2015).
2.3 Other available approaches
Other than the used approach by Air Asia could be mind games and scenario approach.
Both these approaches could be implemented within firm and thus assists business to overcome
their issues and thus enhance the sales and profitability of firm in market. Both the identified is
also appropriate for Air Asia as it would help them to remain competitive in current market
conditions. Therefore, it is essential for enterprise to focus upon using different theories and
methods so that suitability of cost effective leadership can be applied in regard to attain best
results (Frensch and Funke, 2014). Thus, it is significant for enterprise to implement mind games
in which top management uses effective strategy and thus implement the same in regard to
improve the business performance by delivering low cost carrier to consumers and satisfying
their needs. However, it is an effective strategy that assists in implementing the approach so that
best results can be attained. Further, scenario approach is also useful as it assists in implementing
the method and thus understands the scenario effectively so that it could help in implementing
the approach and thus justify the suitability aspect so that success can be attained (Proctor,
2014).
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Both the discussed approaches are effectively implemented within Air Asia and thus
success can be achieved accordingly. However, it is essential for the top management of airline
to implement mind game approach which is suitable for them to become the market leader. As
firm focuses upon enhancing the ability and deliver quality services to customers so that using
mind games and implementing suitable strategy proves to be beneficial. However, it helps in
enhancing the sales and profitability of firm in market. For instance, top management of Air Asia
uses mind games approach which assists firm to identify the competitors available in market. It
also helps in giving tough competition to each other so that Air Asia focuses upon using cost
effective strategy which proves to be effective in terms of retaining consumers for long term.
Thus, it is considered as the appropriate strategy which would benefit firm in terms of both high
sales and profitability. Further, another approach used is scenario approach in which
management focuses upon assessing the current business scenario and thus implement the
strategy accordingly so that delivering low cost carrier facility to consumers proves to be
beneficial for firm and thus attain customer satisfaction in market. It is also considered as an
appropriate approach and thus proves to be beneficial for firm in order to enhance sales and
profitability.
3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 Justification of the most appropriate approach
It can be stated that the most effective approach used within Air Asia is ethical approach
that would help firm to implement best results and thus improve business performance in market.
Thus, it enhances the sales and profitability of firm in market. Also, using such approach assists
in improving best outcomes so that cost effective leadership strategy is being followed by
enterprise and delivers low cost fare to consumers that enhances sales of firm. Also, such
approach helps airline industry in regard to attain desired results. As compared to other
approaches it is the most effective and thus help firm to improve its business performance so that
more number of customers can be attracted towards enterprise and they can improve its market
share and brand image (Hwang and Yoon, 2012). Scenario approach strength is to identify the
best scenario within firm and thus apply the strategies to enhance business outcomes. While the
weaknesses is that it is essential for business to identify the scenario as well as strategy that need
to be applied that affects business functions. While, ethical approach is most appropriate and thus
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it assesses the strength that Air Asia needs to identify the ethical considerations so that it does
not affect the expectations of consumers. The main limitation is that ethical approach influences
consumers decision to travel from the airlines. Therefore, it can be stated that ethical approach is
considered as the most effective and thus it identifies best results in the form of attaining best
results. It can be considered that the selected approaches possess both strengths and weaknesses
so that it affects the business sales and profitability. However, implementing mind games and
scenario approach is suitable that focuses upon assessing its merits and demerits. Main strength
of such approach is that it helps employees to identify the needs and wants of consumers while
the weakness is that it is unable to assess the appropriate scenario that needs by the firm in order
to operate in market. Therefore, adopting scenario approach and implementing cost effective
leadership strategy would not be so feasible. Therefore, it is essential for business to undertake
appropriate strategy so that through implementing such approach it would result in enhancing
satisfaction among consumers. Thus, adopting such approach is found suitable in relation to
implement cost effective strategy so that best prices are set in relation to improve sales and
profitability.
3.2 Implementation of the most appropriate approach
It can be stated that the main approach used is ethical approach and thus it is considered
as effective that helps in implementing the same in regard to attain best results. Thus, it helps in
identifying the strategy which results into assessing that Air Asia assists in attaining effective
leadership action through using cost effective leadership. It means that firm attains the market
leader tactic in regard to overcome the problem and thus attain best results. However, through
implementing the effective strategy it helps in improving business performance and thus success
can be attained (Zadek, Evans and Pruzan, 2013). However, it is essential for enterprise to
become low cost carrier leader in such competitive market and overcome competition so that
success can be attained. Thus, it helps in improving brand image in market and thus sales and
profitability of Air Asia can be improved. Through identifying the issue and problem it is
essential for Air Asia to overcome the problem and thus implement cost effective strategy which
results in overcoming the rivals in market. Implementing cost effective strategy using ethical
approach means no hidden cost added so that customer satisfaction can be attained. However, if
business charges extra cost related to any tax and then promoting it as a low cost carrier than it
would result into affecting the consumers' expectation and thus decreases the sales of firm in
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market. Therefore, it is essential for firm to implement the approach effectively and thus attain
best results effectively and efficiently.
Action plan
Specific action plan consists of the following points:
 To identify the business values and beliefs.
 To obtain commitment from the top management of firm.
 Further, involving board of directors to take necessary action within ethical
implementation of plan.
 Later, developing proper ethical code of conduct. Developing ethics into business mission and vision in regard to attain desired objectives.
Gantt chart
Activity/Week Week1 Week2 Week3 Week4 Week5
Identifying business
values and beliefs
Obtaining
commitment from top
management
Engaging board of
directors
Developing proper
ethical code of
conduct
Building ethics into
business mission and
vision
3.3 Summary of the key learning
It can be concluded from the study that appropriate decision could be made in regard to
overcome the problems and thus best results can be attained. Thus, here identifying the problem
faced by Air Asia in relation to become low cost market leader in carrier and thus for this firm
implements cost effective leadership so that success can be attained. Therefore, it helps in
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improving market share and profitability so that best results can be attained. However, it is
essential for enterprise to focus upon improving cost effective leadership and thus overcome the
weaknesses as there are wide range of rivals available in market. Thus, it can be assessed that
implementing such strategy would result firm to enhance its market share to satisfy the needs of
clients. Also, it is essential for airline firm to provide best quality products or services and thus
improve business performance in market.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Chaudhari, M.R.R. and Bakal, J.W., 2015. Overview of Database Auditing for Oracle
Database. Auditing. 4(7).
Cronin, B. and Sugimoto, C.R. eds., 2015. Scholarly metrics under the microscope: from
citation analysis to academic auditing. Information Today.
Frensch, P.A. and Funke, J., 2014. Complex problem solving: The European perspective.
Psychology Press.
Goldsmith, E.B., 2015. Decision Making and Problem Solving. In Social Influence and
Sustainable Consumption . Springer International Publishing.
Hwang, C.L. and Yoon, K., 2012. Multiple attribute decision making: methods and applications
a state-of-the-art survey. Springer Science & Business Media.
Power, M.K. and Gendron, Y., 2015. Qualitative research in auditing: A methodological
roadmap. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory. 34(2). pp.147-165.
Proctor, T., 2014. Creative problem solving for managers: developing skills for decision making
and innovation. Routledge.
Wang, B., Li, B. and Li, H., 2012, June. Oruta: Privacy-preserving public auditing for shared
data in the cloud. In Cloud Computing (CLOUD), 2012 IEEE 5th International
Conference on. IEEE.
Wang, B., Li, B. and Li, H., 2015. Panda: public auditing for shared data with efficient user
revocation in the cloud. IEEE Transactions on services computing. 8(1). pp.92-106.
Wang, C. and et. al., 2013. Privacy-preserving public auditing for secure cloud storage. IEEE
Transactions on computers. 62(2). pp.362-375.
Yang, K. and Jia, X., 2013. An efficient and secure dynamic auditing protocol for data storage in
cloud computing. IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems. 24(9). pp.1717-
1726.
Ye, M. and Simunic, D.A., 2013. The economics of setting auditing standards. Contemporary
Accounting Research. 30(3). pp.1191-1215.
Yu, J. and et. al., 2015. Enabling cloud storage auditing with key-exposure resistance. IEEE
Transactions on Information forensics and security. 10(6). pp.1167-1179.
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Zadek, S., Evans, R. and Pruzan, P., 2013. Building corporate accountability: Emerging practice
in social and ethical accounting and auditing. Routledge.
Online
The Air Asia Company Strategic management: “How AirAsia can be a leader in the lowest cost
carrier in the airplane industry”. 2009. [Online]. Available through:
<https://itsaboutmymot.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-airasia-company-strategic-
management-%E2%80%9C-how-airasia-can-be-a-leader-in-the-lowest-cost-carrier-in-the-
airplane-industry%E2%80%9D/>. [Accessed on 30th November 2016].
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