We invite you to attend Jorge Suarez Tirado’s doctoral thesis defence.
Details of the doctoral thesis defence:
- Date: December 13, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: In person – Meža iela 3, Room 214
- Online: via ZOOM
Defence of the Doctoral Thesis by Jorge Suarez Tirado “The Impact of Strategic Management Accounting on the Financial Performance of Low-Cost Airlines”
Doctoral Candidate: Jorge Suarez Tirado
Field of Research: Social Sciences
Thesis Title: “Effects of Strategic Management Accounting on the Financial Performance of Low-Cost Airlines”
Supervisors:
Dr. Sc. Admin., Prof. Inese Mavlutova
About the Thesis:
This research focuses on the airline industry—a dynamic sector where various business models, including full-service carriers, low-cost carriers (LCCs), hybrid carriers, regional airlines, and charter airlines, create a highly competitive environment characterized by high fixed costs, low profitability, and complex operational domains. To succeed in this industry, airlines adopt strategies to enhance efficiency—boosting productivity, intensive aircraft utilization, high load factors, and cost reduction. This is achieved through long-term fuel supply contracts, operations at secondary airports, and staff outsourcing.
Low-cost carriers have entered the market and successfully positioned themselves in various regions. By analyzing the unique aspects of their business model, the research seeks to identify the distinctive factors that set them apart from traditional full-service carriers (FSCs).
The study aims to determine the impact of strategic management accounting (SMA) on the financial performance of low-cost airlines, promoting its adoption and application in such businesses.
Research Questions:
- What is the current state of implementing strategic management accounting practices in low-cost airlines?
- What have been the key strategies of successful low-cost airlines in achieving strong financial performance?
- To what extent does strategic management accounting enhance decision-making and implementation processes in low-cost airlines?
The research reveals that management accountants, who provide external, non-financial, and forward-looking information, play a key role in decision-making, implementation, and the use of SMA in the analyzed LCCs. However, their role is not significant in terms of SMA’s direct impact on financial performance. Nonetheless, experts interviewed recognized the importance of this role in creating a link between the business environment and the strategic factors of LCCs.
Thesis Summary in English and Latvian here.
The defence will be open to the public—all interested parties can join on December 13, 2024, from 10.00 to 12.00 via the Zoom link: https://riseba.eu/goto/phddefence.