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Following the below 2 instructions how can I respond to the below…
Following the below 2 instructions how can I respond to the below discussion posts?
In your discussion responses to your classmates, advocate for your five points vs. their five; or, accept one of their points and explain why you found their point better. Back and forth discussion is strongly encouraged. Develop the clearest possible picture of Southwest’s current state.
Work with your classmates to develop an action plan for Southwest: Based on Deming’s 14 points, how could Southwest overcome barriers the class has identified in the discussion to improve their quality and performance?
My five points- Amanda Guillot ThursdayAug 10 at 5:25pm
Southwest Airlines’ resounding success can be attributed to its alignment with Deming’s fundamental principles. The company’s unwavering purpose – becoming the world’s most beloved and profitable airline – fuels its achievements. Southwest has distinguished itself by adhering to its core model, focusing on improvement, embedding quality from the start, delivering value beyond price, and persistently innovating. The airline’s commitment to these principles has propelled it forward, sustaining its leadership through focused determination and continuous progress.
Create constancy of purpose. Southwest Airlines has a clear purpose: to be the world’s most loved, considerable flown, and most profitable airline. This purpose is evident in everything the company does, from its low-cost, point-to-point flights to its friendly and customer-focused employees. Southwest’s constancy of purpose has helped the company to stay focused on its goals and to achieve success over the years.
For example, Southwest has resisted expanding its fleet into long-haul flights. This is because the company believes that its core business of low-cost, point-to-point flights is what makes it successful. Southwest’s focus on its core business has helped it maintain its profitability and avoid the financial problems plaguing other airlines.
Adopt the new philosophy. Southwest Airlines has embraced the philosophy of continuous improvement. The company constantly seeks to improve its processes, products, and services. This commitment to improvement has helped Southwest to remain ahead of the contest and to maintain its profitability.
For example, Southwest was the first airline to introduce electronic ticketing, which saved the company millions of dollars in printing and mailing costs. Southwest also was the first airline to introduce boarding by zone, which helped to speed up the boarding process and improve customer satisfaction.
Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Southwest Airlines does not rely on inspection to achieve quality. Instead, the company focuses on building quality into its products and services. This is evident in the company’s rigorous employee training program and its emphasis on teamwork and cooperation. Southwest’s focus on quality has helped the company to achieve a very high level of customer satisfaction.
For example, Southwest employees are required to undergo extensive training before they are allowed to work on the flight deck. This training helps to ensure that all Southwest pilots are highly skilled and capable of flying safely. Southwest also emphasizes teamwork and cooperation among its employees. This helps ensure that everyone works together to achieve the company’s goals, including providing a high-quality product to customers.
Put an end to choosing customers only on the basis of pricing. Southwest Airlines needs to compete on price. Instead, the company focuses on providing value to its customers. This includes offering low fares but also providing a positive customer experience. Southwest’s focus on value has helped the company to attract and retain customers.
For example, Customers of Southwest can take advantage of a number of services, such as complimentary checked bags and refreshments. Additionally, the staff of Southwest is kind and customer-oriented. This helps create positive experience for customers, even when flying on a low-cost airline.
Improve constantly and forever. Southwest Airlines is regularly looking for methods to improve. The company has a long history of innovation, and it is always looking for new ways to improve its products and services. His dedication to development has enabled Southwest to stay profitable and ahead of the competition.
For example, Southwest was the first airline to introduce boarding by zone, which helped to speed up the boarding process and improve customer satisfaction. Southwest also was the first airline to offer WiFi on its flights. This innovation has helped Southwest to attract and retain customers, especially business travelers.
In conclusion, Southwest Airlines serves as a prime example of how the principles outlined by Deming can significantly impact an organization’s success trajectory. Southwest has established itself as a paragon of excellence in the aviation industry through a steadfast commitment to its purpose, a dedication to continuous improvement, a focus on intrinsic quality, a departure from price-centric competition, and an unwavering pursuit of innovation. By embracing these principles, Southwest has achieved unparalleled accomplishments and set a benchmark for other companies aspiring to attain enduring prosperity and customer loyalty. The airline’s journey underscores the timeless relevance of Deming’s philosophy and provides a testament to the transformative power of these principles when applied with diligence and purpose.
Post 1- Amanda,
I had a thought when you were discussing the amount of training Southwest employees go through in order to work on the flight deck. Do Southwest pilots have to go through training specific for the airline itself? Are there additional safety requirements they have to go through in order to fly for Southwest? I’m curious if this is more than what is required by the Federal Aviation Administration or if is just what is required in order to be compliant. If it is additional then it absolutely shows the commitment that Southwest has to strive for excellence. A caveat with that is I wonder if thier pilots are better compensated compared to other airlines if they have to complete more training than necessary to safely fly at that level.
Post 2- Katherine Mercuri
ThursdayAug 10 at 10:12pm
Manage Discussion Entry
Five of Deming’s Points that can be applied to Southwest:
1.”Create constancy of purposeLinks to an external site. toward improvement of product and service, with the aim to become competitive and to stay in business, and to provide jobs (The Demings Institute, 2023)” – This can be seen in Southwest’s transformation since its inception to today (Southwest, 2023). From creating new customer and business class experiences from the beginnings, pushing to expand out of Texas for exponential growth in the 80’s over its competitors, to “democratizing” the skies in the 90’s to get more people to fly than ever.
Institute job training/13. Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement. – Southwest has a Career Mobility Center, offering online classes and career mentoring to empower employees (Southwest, 2023). They also encourage and provide opportunities to volunteer and give back to the community, improving one’s social impact.
Put everybody in the company to work to accomplish the transformation – At the core of Southwest’s culture is active engagement of employees and treating them well and it is also every employee’s job to participate and be responsible for creating the culture that they prize (Southwest, 2023). Ownership drives accountability.
Drive out fearLinks to an external site., so that everyone may work effectively for the company. In 2022 it came out that employees had been complaining for years about the communication and scheduling systems (Couch, 2023).. Also that holiday employees were treated horribly. This is not the employee first attitude Southwest touts.
Couch, M. (2023, February 24). Organizational Culture Lessons You Can Learn From Southwest Airlines’ Debacle. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2023/02/24/organization
Southwest. (2023). Southwest Careers. https://careers.southwestair.com/?clk=GFOOTER-ABOUT-CAREERS
The Deming Institute. (2023). Fourteen points. https://deming.org/explore/fourteen-points/
