The company enjoyed spectacular growth and profitability under the leadership of its former chief executive officer, Herb Kelleher, and the company's current leadership has picked up where Kelleher left off by continuing his corporate vision for Southwest but in expanded ways. The question therefore remains whether Southwest has bitten off more than it can reasonably chew given that its track record of success is built on the original business model and focused on domestic service using one aircraft model only. By following the steps outlined above, though, Southwest stands a better chance of succeeding in these uncharted waters.

References

Blackwell, C.W., & Gibson, J.W. (1999). Flying high with Herb Kelleher: A profile in charismatic leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies, 120.

Haas, W. (2007, February 2). How Southwest Airlines plans for success. Yahoo! News Network.

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Hanlan, M. (2004). High performance teams: How to make them work. Westport, CT:...
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