"The Southwest Airlines Way"

Paper Summary:

In this paper, the writer looks at "The Southwest Airlines Way" and how Jody Hoffer Gittell explains the difference between Southwest Airlines and its competition. The writer focuses on Gittell's thesis that the relationships which Southwest enjoy have been carefully planned and nurtured as a founding and fundamental principle, and while the competition made profits by higher prices and lower salaries, Southwest concentrated on quick turnarounds and the cutting of costs. The writer points out a limitation of this work that the conclusion offers no solid recommendations for another company to follow Southwest's strategies. The writer therefore concludes that this work is more a primer for those who wish to learn the ins and out of the corporate structure and less for a student of business.

From the Paper:

"Since its beginnings at Dallas' Love Field over 30 years ago, Southwest Airlines has been the most successful airline in history, posting profits in all but its first year in business. It was no accident that company founders, Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barrett have enjoyed special relationships with their vendors, employees and customers over the years. They saw a demand for their product and beat the competition at its own game through leadership, cultural strategy and coordination. But behind it all was the ever-present high profile relationships which they so successfully sought. This proved to work."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gittell, Jody Hoffer, The Southwest Airlines Way, (New York, McGraw-Hill, 2003)

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