Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line
Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line
Introduction
Southwest Airlines is the largest successful low-fare airline carrier in the United States. “The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.” (Southwest Airlines, 2012) Southwest operates the business based on its core values: culture, philosophy, and spirit. “People are important…each one makes a difference.” (Surenderan, E., 2010, March 6) They are committed to establishing transparency to their employees, customers, and stakeholders with Southwest’s One Report, which is the framework for their triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit.
Southwest understands the changes in the workforce and the global implications. They recognize employees look for organizations that “develop an empowered culture where employees routinely come up with ways to improve performance; sustainability is one of the areas employees focus on.” (Hitchcock, 2012, Kindle Location 4021-4022) Southwest also realizes consumers are also “telling individual business units that sustainability issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change mattered to them.” (Senge, 2008, Kindle Locations 1630-1631) The One Report details their corporate social responsibility in relation to sustainability efforts, measurements, and environmental considerations.
People
One of Southwest greatest strengths, and the main reason why I would work for the organization, is the way their employees are treated. Southwest believes “our People are our greatest strength and an enduring long-term competitive advantage.” (Southwest, 2011) Their performance management strategy is “employees, not customers come first!!!” (Surenderan, E., 2010, March 6); the belief is happy employees will ultimately result in happy customers. The organization promotes a culture for creativity and innovation, which in turn,
Introduction
Southwest Airlines is the largest successful low-fare airline carrier in the United States. “The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.” (Southwest Airlines, 2012) Southwest operates the business based on its core values: culture, philosophy, and spirit. “People are important…each one makes a difference.” (Surenderan, E., 2010, March 6) They are committed to establishing transparency to their employees, customers, and stakeholders with Southwest’s One Report, which is the framework for their triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit.
Southwest understands the changes in the workforce and the global implications. They recognize employees look for organizations that “develop an empowered culture where employees routinely come up with ways to improve performance; sustainability is one of the areas employees focus on.” (Hitchcock, 2012, Kindle Location 4021-4022) Southwest also realizes consumers are also “telling individual business units that sustainability issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change mattered to them.” (Senge, 2008, Kindle Locations 1630-1631) The One Report details their corporate social responsibility in relation to sustainability efforts, measurements, and environmental considerations.
People
One of Southwest greatest strengths, and the main reason why I would work for the organization, is the way their employees are treated. Southwest believes “our People are our greatest strength and an enduring long-term competitive advantage.” (Southwest, 2011) Their performance management strategy is “employees, not customers come first!!!” (Surenderan, E., 2010, March 6); the belief is happy employees will ultimately result in happy customers. The organization promotes a culture for creativity and innovation, which in turn,
References: Hitchcock, Darcy; Willard, Marsha (2012-05-04). The Business Guide to Sustainability: Practical Strategies and Tools for Organizations. Taylor & Francis. Kindle Edition. Senge, Peter M.; Laur, Joe; Schley, Sara; Smith, Bryan; Kruschwitz, Nina (2008-06-10). The Necessary Revolution: How Individuals And Organizations Are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World. Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition. Southwest Airlines. (2011). 2011 Southwest Airlines One Report. Retrieved from http://www.southwestonereport.com/2011/#!/planet/overview Southwest Airlines. (2012). Abouth Southwest. Retrieved from http://www.southwest.com/html/about-southwest/index.html?int=GFOOTER-ABOUT-ABOUT Surenderan, E. (2010, March 6). Southwest airlines culture, values and operating practices. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/itzraaje/southwest-airlines-culture-values-and-operating-practices