Southwest Airlines College Essays Samples For Students

Introduction

Southwest Airlines is a passenger airline that provides air transport services in the United States of America. The airline has been a role model for not only other domestic airlines but also other businesses from different industries. The company has witnessed massive growth and development throughout the years and part of this growth has been attributed to the company’s overall organizational structure and design. The fact that the company belongs to the “low cost” market segment has also been a contributing factor to its success. This paper seeks to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Southwest Airline organization structure and design and provide ...

Southwest Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the United States. With its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the airline has a workforce of around 45,000 employees and operates 3400 flights daily. In recent years, Southwest Airlines has overtaken its competitors to become the largest domestic carrier in the United States. In fact, for its entire’s existence, the company has primarily focused on domestic flights. Most of the company’s customers are therefore domestic travelers moving from one city or one state to another. Currently, the airline offers flight services across 89 destinations in the US. These include ...

The airline sector has in the past contributed greatly to the economic growth of countries due to increasing demand for travel services both in developed and developing countries. The reason behind the increasing demand for flying is because it is one of the greatest achievements on this earth. This paper evaluates Southwest Airlines in terms of its mission, strategic leadership, corporate culture, systems and organizational structure because the overall organizational behavior comprises of these identifiable components. Understanding the long-term and short-term effectiveness of strategies as well as their impacts on political, psychological, fiscal and environmental arenas on behavior is ...

[Author’s name]

Threats and Opportunities for Southwest Airlines

Airlines industry is a tough one. While it is very hard to enter it, surviving could also be problematic. The most annoying thing for managers must be that not always everything depends on the management – external environment dictates the conditions of the industry and the best thing the companies can do is to adapt. Due to increasing prices for fuel and intense competition (with price competitions as the main tool), the careers operate on very low margins; all the economic shocks are particularly harmful for the industry. There is a significant upside, though: there is barely a substitution for ...

[Author’s name]

External Analysis of Southwest Airlines’ Environment

Founded in 1967, Southwest Airlines is at the moment the largest low-cost carrier in the world – it employs approximately 46,000 employees, serves around 100 million passengers annually and operates more than 3,300 flights daily. As of 2013, it serves destinations in 42 states and Puerto Rico (Southwest, 2013). From the financial side, the company’s total operating revenue amounted to roughly USD 17bn, it shows profits consistently (40 years in a row; 2012 – USD 421m) and its total assets are worth around USD 18,5bn (Southwest Airlines, 2013). The company is quoted on NYSE. The ...

1. Mission statement and objectives. Southwest Airlines has always emphasized the adherence to their mission and objectives, which form the basis for the Southwest culture. Its official mission “... is dedications to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit” (Southwest Airlines, 2010). The clarity of the mission statement makes it very understandable and transparent to the stakeholders. Southwest Airline’s mission includes a separate paragraph, dedicated to the employee relations. It emphasizes company’s commitment “... to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal ...

Introduction

The U.S. airline industry continues to be fiercely competitive, due to a combination of rising costs, increased government regulation, fluctuating macroeconomic conditions, and increasingly price sensitive consumers (Southwest Airlines, 2016a). Environmental pressures have led to several mergers and acquisitions within the industry, including major carriers as well as regional and domestic carriers (Southwest Airlines, 2016a). Low-cost domestic airline carriers that offer non-stop service to popular domestic and tourist destinations within North America have emerged as formidable competitors to large, international carriers such as United Airlines. Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Air are two carriers that focus on variations of the ...

The strengths of Southwest Airlines include continuous growth and profitability. Further, unique and a cooperative culture, teamwork, and efficiency of operations are also strengths of Southwest Airlines. The company can achieve success in new markets as well as in existing market if it continues to maintain its strengths, and focus on modifying its boarding policy, and using cost effective planes, which will also enable the company to achieve competitive advantage in the marketplace. Weakness of company, however, include the fact that the company is now not ensuring proper management, as a result of which customers are not much satisfied ...

SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis will evaluate and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Southwest Airlines.
Strength
Southwest Airlines has an effective performance, sound fleet operations, and good brand reputation in the U.S market. It is low fare carrier airlines that have efficient, dedicated, and friendly employees. It has offered valuable services to the customers in reasonable price that resulted in highest number of satisfied passengers per year. It has strong executive team and large number of skilled employees.

Weaknesses

It is noticed that the company has little diversification and mostly employees are unionized. The company has experienced decline in its ...

Southwest Airlines strategies

Southwest Airlines strategic planning is an ongoing process and struggling to meet the challenges and gain a competitive advantage in the market. During the last week, I have identified the strategy of the company through Space Matrix analysis and found that the company had focused the service development. It has designed low-cost carrier strategy to maintain the competitive advantage in the U.S market. The current strategy of Southwest Airlines has maintained its position in the market and attracted more customers (Southwest Airlines, 2015).
Southwest Airlines can choose some other strategic alternative such as improve its sustainability through providing better ...

IFE Matrix and EFE Matrix of Southwest Airlines

IFE Matrix and EFE Matrix of Southwest Airlines

Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix (IFE Matrix) and External Factor Evaluation Matrix (EFE Matrix) are strategic management tools for evaluating and identifying the internal and external strength and weaknesses of Southwest Airlines.

IFE Matrix

EFE Matrix
LA2
Southwest Airlines is a U.S airline organization that is world’s largest lower cost carrier company. It has offered the valuable services to the customer and mostly serving the customers in the domestic country. I have found one major strength that it has experienced fast growth in its operations. The company was begun in 1967 and continuously ...

Southwest Airlines is the fourth largest air carrier in USA. The name “Southwest” has become synonymous with quality service and a great employer. The company of Southwest Airlines has brought a lot of innovations to the air transportation industry, as many of the required attributes of modern low-cost airlines have been tested and implemented by Southwest Airlines. It was the first airline in the world that started using electronic ticket, booking seats via the Internet, using the aircraft of only one type and allowing passengers to take any seats in a plane to reduce the boarding time.
The main ...

Political and Legal Environment

The American airline industry is impacted by the legal restrictions and regulations related to competition, tax policy and international trade. The airline industry is also impacted by political factors such as terrorism, war and outbreak of diseases for example: Ebola (Cederholm, 2014). Southwest Airlines operates in a highly regulated American aviation industry with rules related to ethical competition, trade restrictions and tax policy. The U.S. government has strong regulations related to air travel and incoming passengers and require airlines to comply with their regulations. The political environment was heavily affected during the 9/11 terror attacks and economic recession as ...

Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States. It provides domestic flight services across 89 destinations in the country. This is comprised of towns and cities in 42 different states.
Being a service industry, the companies’ greatest source of uncertainty is input. The company must rely on stakeholders such as suppliers to conveniently avail products that will be converted to the final output. Since suppliers are part of the specific environment that Southwest has relatively little control over, they bring about high uncertainty.
Technology is a very huge part of Southwest Airlines operations including its productions ...

Southwest Airlines strategy

Learning Activity #1
Organizations have heavily invested in developing their strategy, and it is found that even the best strategies often fail. There are certain reasons behind that and organizations are unable to implement a sound strategy in an effective manner. During the last week, I have used the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) tool to evaluate the merger and strategy for Southwest Airline. It was identified that the strategy would be probably acceptable, and it is a more attractive strategy that can increase the performance and operational effectiveness of the company. The organization design has a significant impact ...

Integrated Marketing Communications Plan

Industry/Company review
CBU Airlines is a company based in Riverside, California. The company has the entire infrastructure necessary to become a prominent player in the airline industry, including jets, employees and terminals. In light of this, the company needs a new integrated marketing communications plan (IMC) to enable it to compete effectively with other airlines. The U.S. domestic airline industry earns in excess of $158 billion in revenue each year. Furthermore, the industry has been experiencing growth because of increased business and consumer spending as the country recovers from the 2007-2009 recession. In addition, the growth in the industry ...

Introduction

For a long time, the successes of many businesses have been ascribed to the type of leadership models used by the respective company's management. It does not apply to revenue generating institutions alone, but organizations with formal and informal structures in general. There are four main leadership theories namely; contingency, behavioral, trait, and power and influence theory. They differ regarding characteristics and the situations, determining their applicability. The case of Southwest Airlines presented illustrates the contingency leadership theory. This paper examines the case to outline the aspects characterizing contingency theory. The discussion will begin by focusing on common features ...

Introduction

All organizations are bound to change at some point during their lifetimes. As technology advances and customer preferences shift, it is important that a company make the necessary changes to keep up with demand and offer customers what they desire. Organizational change is crucial to the survival of a company. In this paper, organization change refers to the way an organization moves from one way of operation to another (Bauer & Erodogan, 2009). This change can occur through several different ways which include the way a company is structured, a modification of the overall business strategy, policies, and procedures; or ...

Background of the industry: Airline industry is huge and developing industry that contributes profoundly in the economy growth of a country. In United State airline industry is growing at a very good speed. A rapid growth has been noticed after introduction of Low Cost Carriers in this sector. In present scenario governments of developing countries have realized the benefit of tourism sector and its contribution towards economic growth. Government is offering good infrastructure and tourism friendly policies while travel companies are offering very lucrative holiday packages to travellers . As per a few government reports, airline industry is generating revenue of around $1.2 ...

The Southwest Airlines that travel throughout the South Western states of the United States of America have their fair share of issues. Some clients believe that the Airline is among the best while others have complaints about their services. The South West Airline has some unmet needs such as the issue of timekeeping mostly on time spent on the tarmac. There have been various cases of delayed flights that disappoint the customers. Some of the reasons for the long waits on the tarmac would be the weather such as heavy snow. The flight crew of the airline should be ...

Introduction

A strategy is a plan, choice, and decision that an organization makes to gain profits, success, and increased market share. Importantly, strategic planning is not strategic thinking (Mintzberg, 1994). This essay discusses the importance of goals and plans to an organization. Also, it examines the elements that are essential in the development of an effective business strategy.

Importance of the three goals to the strategy

Strategic goals
Strategic goals are fundamental since they help the organization to determine what it needs to do in long-term and ways to attain the target. Also, strategic goals assist the particular company to utilize its resources including employees and assets to ...

Introduction

In this assignment, we will be taking examples of publicly traded companies from the aviation sector. In the case of company that has acquired another company, and also operates internationally, we will take the example of United Airlines. It has recently taken over its rival Continental Airlines. In the case of an airline that does not have a history of mergers and acquisitions, and operations solely with the U.S., we will be taking the example of Southwest Airlines.

Evaluation of Strategy behind the Merger of United and Continental

According to , the United Airlines was forces to merge with the Continental Airlines due to lack of robust strategic planning. Briefly looking ...

Question 1

Southwest Airlines adds value by focusing on developing a relationship culture within the organization as well as with the customers. For instance, they have flight attendants who sing the safety instructions to the passengers. By focusing on the people, the Southwest Airlines has the capability to develop a positive people culture, which makes them different from other airlines in the industry. Through focusing on the people, they are able to achieve the needs of both customers and employees.

Question 2

As a competitive strategy, Southwest Airlines focuses more on developing a people culture, which most of the other players in the airline industry find hard ...

Herbert D Kelleher is the CEO and the co-founder of the Southwest Airlines that started its business operations from being a small airline company comprising of four jets only to becoming an industry leader. The CEO Kelleher is respected and much appreciated by his employees and has earned commendable respect on the Wall Street. The airline company has harnessed 38 years of profitability, a record no other airline company has been able to break as yet. This is due to the leadership style of Herb Kelleher and the due respect given to the employees.
Herbert Kelleher follows a transformational ...

Gary Kelly is the chairperson of the board, the chief executive officer (CEO) and the president of Southwest Airlines Company, which is the largest low-cost carrier in the world. He has been the chairperson of the company since 2005 with its headquarters based in Dallas Texas. Since the start of the business, Gary has shown tremendous performance and has since moved his way up through various positions including principal accounting officer, finance vice president, executive vice president of finance and finally made the CEO.
As the chief executive officer of his company, Gary has exhibited a unique leadership style ...

Discussion Questions

This statement by Drucker means the reason a business exists is to serve its customers as well as the general public. Any business is in place for a given purpose and if the business does not have any customers, then there is no reason why the business should be in place. With this statement, Drucker means that the customers of a business as well as the general public determine the purpose of any business. I agree with this statement because a business has to fulfill its purpose by ensuring that it meets its customers need while at the same ...

Delta Airlines

I. Problem
This case describes the challenging strategic decision about downsizing in Delta Airlines where 2,000 employees were laid off in 2011. According to Freed (2011), the layoffs have been undertaken as the high fuel prices have sliced the Airline’s profits in half; thus having 70 percent of the earned money cover for fuel alone.
II. Alternatives to the problem

Among the alternatives to having layoffs are the following:

a. Expansion
In times of great crisis where many of the airlines are choosing to downsize, expansion can help gain more profits in the long run since the competition is slowly depleting.
b. ...

Abstract

This analysis provides environmental scan for 2 companies that operate in 2 different industries. These companies are Southwest Airlines and Apple Inc. Both of these Companies have had their success in reacting quickly to the evolving business environments around them. The Apples main competency revolves around knack for innovation in technology whereas Southwest’s model is essentially comparatively simplistic in nature and in addition functions as low cost leader in the industry it belongs. Albeit the 2 Companies possess totally different strategies, every strategy is actually designed for the environment where they operate and furthermore is successful relative to ...

The aviation industry has assumed a competitive character premised on the modern managerial concepts, scientific applications and increased globalization. The nature of competition has compelled airlines in the industries to position themselves strategically, employing models that enhance their competitive abilities. It is the contention of this paper that Porter’s generic competitive advantage strategy can be applied in relation to the development of a brand image that would position the company ahead in the competitive airline industry. This paper shall discuss how the competitive strategy can be employed in line with the concept of branding and the associated benefits that would ...

Introduction

For any airline industry to succeed in the US, a good business strategy is essential. When choosing business strategies, the industry should ensure that the success of the business-level strategies is promoted. The US Airline Industry can achieve this by meeting the following critical requirements: horizontal integration, vertical integration, building cooperative relationships, engaging in competitive bidding and short term contracts and being part of strategic alliances and long term contracts. Apart from a good business strategy, excellent management tools and effective leadership also play a crucial role when it comes to success in this industry.

Question 2: Identify Critical Requirements for a Strategic and Competitive US Airline Industry and Global Advantages to the organization

Horizontal Integration/consolidation is one ...

Public Relations

The social media provides companies with the platform to showcase their brands and services thus attracting more customers. Businesses that utilize the social media for advertisements are worth paying attention to since they equip one with the awareness of the services they offer (Flew, 2015). One of the companies that utilize the social media well to address their services is the Southwest Airlines Company. The South West Airlines Company uses the social media to provide interactive services to their customers. The South West Airlines company provides customer services, for example, they provide a customer inquiry platform in their blogs ...

The Name of the Class

The City and Date where it is located
Introduction
Operations management is a field of practice in management, which is concerned with strategizing and controlling the process of converting a business input into an output. This area majorly focuses on production, efficiency and customer satisfaction. The aviation industry has become one of the most important sectors of the economy in any country worldwide; this is because according to the Air Transport Action Group, over 3.1 billion passengers are carried by global airlines (Air Transport Action Group, 2016). Peaceful relations between different economies, technological advancement, trade and innovations among different ...

Communication

Sports Event Analysis Paper – The Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League
(Philadelphia 76ers versus Memphis Grizzlies)
This analysis begins with a short introduction on the Summer League followed by an examination of how the game fixture was covered on a live television broadcast. It includes a further analysis of its cover on the league website and a final twitter response that was related to the event.

Introduction

The Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League began on the 5th of July on a Saturday running through the 11th of July, 2014. The seven day, 25 game sporting event featured renowned teams like the Bolton ...

Business Process and System

Abstract
This paper is on business process and systems of Pars Food Ltd. The paper is divided into two essays with first essay on the task of how total quality management and supply chain management of Pars food ltd can help the company in achieving its long term objectives. The second essay will discuss how organizational structure, employee selection and training helps in achieving the aligned organization, value added products and competitive advantage and differentiation aspects of Pars Food Ltd’s strategy and vision.
Business Process and System

Increase Market Share: Expansion to Europe

According to Bernard J LaLonde, professor at Ohio State ...

Marketing

In the business universe, there are two types of market spaces; they are known as the Red and Blue Ocean. The Red Ocean is industry that currently exists with defined boundaries and competitive rules accepted by all the companies. Companies in the red ocean compete furiously with one another to control the market. As more companies join the red ocean, profits and growth decreases. Blue Ocean is industry that does not exist and they have no competition. Companies in the blue ocean create demand and there is sufficient profits and growth for all competitors.
Blue Ocean is created ...

This discussion board post discusses the leadership qualities of Gary Kelly. He is the President, CEO and Board Chairman of Southwest Airlines, a notable American low cost air carrier. Prior to his promotion as CEO and Chairman in 2008, Kelly had served as Southwest’s controller, CFO, and Vice President (Finance). Under his leadership, the corporation has grown into becoming US’ largest and most admired airline (SWA, 2013).
Kelly displays three leadership qualities that that makes him an effective leader. One of these is his ability to ensure flexibility in management. For instance, Kelly is aware of unexpected changes ...