Southwest Airlines : A Leader, The Triple Bottom Line, And A Compelling Vision

Why is Southwest Airlines still so successful after all of those years in the unattractive industry? What is the current economic condition of the Southwest Airlines? The current operational issues or challenges within the company are what? What does Southwest Airlines need to remain competitive? Southwest Airlines is an airplane industry that has evidence because their company is successful.

Business Strategy – BAD 4013 – SUMMER 1999 Case Study Southwest Airlines I. Strategic Profile and Case Analysis Purpose The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit. Twenty-seven years ago, Rolling King, owner of floundering commuter airline, and Herb Kelleher, King’s lawyer, got together and decided to start a different kind of airline that would provide a short-haul, low-fair, high-frequency, point-to-point service in the United States. The company began service on June 18, 1971 with flights between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio (“The Golden Triangle” as Herb called it). Southwest Airlines is the fourth

Colleen Barrett is one of the most influential women in the world of business and her efforts have paved the way for future female executives. According to Dierendonck and Patterson (2010), “For five years in a row, SWA is the only airline to win the Triple Crown, ranked first in most on-time flights, least lost baggage, and fewest Customer complaints”(p 135). Colleen Barrett is a rare example of a leader that rose from the ranks of an organization to the highest position of the company while never receiving a formal education in business management (Southwest Airlines ' Colleen Barrett on 'Servant Leadership, 2008). Her greatest achievement while at SWA was completely changing the leadership style and atmosphere of the organization. According to Dierendonck and Patterson (2010), her remodeling of the organization has kept SWA the leader in their industry by “setting and achieving incredible records of performance”(p 135). Leaders at SWA still practice her servant leadership style of managing employees even after she left the organization (Dierendonck & Patterson, 2010). Before a leader can achieve greatness they have to overcome challenges in their career fields.

We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all,

Southwest Airlines (SWA) has been considered as the most successful airline company in the United States. SWA had the lowest fare for about 45% lower than other airlines, however, still being profitable for many years. Their successful company also has been recognized in many reputable business magazines and newspapers, such as Fortune and The Wall Street Journal as they consistently achieved appreciations for their well-managed organizational communication practices. They unconventional ways of managing their employees and running their business showed significant improvements in their performance. Therefore, it is essential to review and understand their actions and applications accordingly to organizational communication strategies, which they used in Southwest and the book “NUTS! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success” by Kevin L. Freiberg and Jacquelyn A. Freiberg provides an insight of the strategies.

Leadership is the elaboration of group inspiration. One person entrusted as leader can implore the aid, and support of supporters in the accomplishment of a common mission. According to Gurdjian, Halbeisen, and Lane “Becoming a more effective leader often requires changing behavior. But although most companies recognize that this also means adjusting underlying mind-sets, too often these organizations are reluctant to address the root causes of why leaders act the way they do” (Gurdjian, Halbeisen, and Lane, 2014) However, today abundant businesses engross importance on the improvement of leaders. Some of the ultimate leaders were formerly followers, such as in instructive businesses. One aspect as leaders many have to contemplate in striving

Southwest Airlines is globalizing their company in order to reach a bigger market, and become competition for other companies. Southwest Airlines has already conquered the domestic market beating American Airlines, United, and Delta according to Fortune. Access to a new market is what motivated Southwest to globalize, they are expanding to the south of North America, with their new assets found in their acquired airline AirTran Airways (LeBeau, 4) . Southwest Airlines has brought low rates and a great experience to the domestic market, which was warmly received, they now plan to dip into global market to bring better service to all.

Southwest Airline employees mainly belong to the Union and they are mainly full time workers. Since the Union has demand more services and benefits for their members, the company gain limited profit. To fix this the company should hire more part time workers instead of full time workers because they do not have to provide full benefits and instead focusing on gaining profit. And also, Southwest Airlines should make all flights within the states point-to-point flights, and give their employees a strict time lines to alleviate delays. This will keep an accurate time frame for customers. As far as the flight concerns, Southwest Airline has only one dependable

Leaders are perhaps uncovered at many different levels and situations (Simmons, 2011). However, leaders in many organizations lead when forced into the spotlight and find out they are not equipped to function effectively. Becoming a leader can be as simple as leading a small team, a group or a community organization (Jennings, 2012). The truth of the matter

Low-cost carriers pose a serious threat to traditional "full service" airlines, since the high cost structure of full-service carriers prevents them from competing

What are the key success factors for Southwest airlines? What are the key things it does to keep its costs lower than competitors?

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” (BrainyQuote). These wise words were spoken by President John Quincy Adams. When I first heard these words I immediately thought of my manager, Paige. She is the true definition of a leader. She has worked for numerous healthcare organizations over the years and through each company she had crafted her leadership style. She joined my company, Hanks Pharmaceuticals four years ago and in that time she has changed the dynamic and culture of 3 different departments. When she first came to Hanks, she was a manager in our onsite Pharmacy. She then volunteered to be a part of a program that rotates managers to different departments for a year at a

The author takes the example of Jovita Carranza to showcase the leadership development at UPS. Jovita Carranza began her career at UPS as a part-time clerk. In a span of 23 years she had achieved the office of the Vice President of UPS Air Operations. The fact that she accomplished so much in a short span of time signifies Carranza’s ambition and drive. She began as a part-time clerk; most professionals entering the job market are selective and generally prefer full time positions. Her exponential rise

For decade’s individuals, companies, and organizations have spent an unprecedented amount of money on researching, molding, modeling and working to define what a leader is and what characteristics make successful leaders. Despite all the research, there is not a quick answer or even full agreement as to what makes an individual an effective leader. The definition of a leader is “someone who can influence others and who has managerial authority.” (Robbins, Decenzo, Coulter, 2015. P.370)

In corporate America the term used to describe a person in a position of power is “Manager”. A leader can be a manager, but a manager is not necessarily a leader. Leaders motivate, challenge, and influence others to achieve goals. Great leaders have the necessary skills and attributes which allow them to connect with the team and organization. Being a leader is not the same as managing an organization. Leader’s posses the interpersonal skills needed to influence others to achieve a goal willingly. Leading is a major part of a manager’s job. Leaders do not need to be a manager to lead people, but managers must know how to lead as well as manage.