On What Measures Has Southwest Airlines Been Successful

This is a PRELIMINARY study guide to help you get started. Check back to see if things have been added to this list. You will be asked to demonstrate your complete understanding of the topics/issues raised and provide specific examples in your responses.

1. Based on the case you read, on what dimensions/measures of performance has Southwest Airlines been successful? If, as Tom Peters says, “Southwest’s business model is understandable by any three old,” why haven’t competitors been able to duplicate the success of Southwest? In your response be sure to consider very thoroughly and specifically, how and why Southwest Airlines gets its competitive advantage through people. Based on our guest speakers’ talk, what has changed at SWA in terms of people management since this case was written?

2. In class we discussed distributive negotiations, where there is a single issue at stake (typically price). What do negotiators need to know about accepting and making first offers and concessions– why?

3. Bill Mercurio spoke to our class about labor negotiations. Identify and describe three key points from his talk. Andrew Pryor spoke to us about his company (Beryl). Why is their turnover rate so low compared to the industry average? How does this help the company?

4. Identify and describe the power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism-collectivism dimensions of national culture according to Hofstede. How would advance knowledge of these dimensions have helped Bob Keyser manage people in Taiwan – be very specific, especially as it pertains to the case?

5. Identify and explain the key elements of the Federal False Claims Act. Describe Jim Alderson’s claim and the outcome. What happened at WorldCom and why? The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed in part in response to what happened at Worldcom. Identify three elements of the Act and explain how these elements might have minimized the acts that occurred at WorldCom had the act been passed a few years earlier.

6. How does the culture of SAS Institute (based on the video clip and related discussion) compare to that of Microsoft based on class information –be very specific . From the perspective of the employee, what issues would arise if Microsoft were to purchase SAS and form one company at the time of the case and related material as discussed in class?

7. Identify the major points made by ONE of the in-class presentations.