Originally Posted by
mattyj
Ummm �� that’s the model they used to originally set up virgin blue
Many airlines have borrowed elements of the Southwest model.
That they are unable to replicate it in its entirety is due one fundamental fact: Sincerity cannot be faked.
The late Mr Kelleher was the real deal.
The modern Corporate suite may attempt to replicate the model with varying degrees of success, but the corporate constructs rely on information asymmetry and thus power asymmetry. It is after all a hierarchy that can easily limit attempts to have a flatter structure, where leadership isn't some word the CEO mouths, whilst accepting yet another advertisers award, but rather everybody is empowered in their field to use. . 'Managers must manage" This is completely at odds with the foundations at Southwest. Mutual respect was and remains evident in everything they do. That is not to say there were not and will not be disagreements.
The reason why Southwest runs higher labour unit cost than Ryanair (higher cost labour) yet generates consistently better productivity isn't due to some clever HR/IR strategy of playing work groups off against each other, punitive work cultures, blame assigning and the like. Rather the company recognises that each play their part, each need the other and no party has all the knowledge. Imagine an inadequate CEO of an Australian airline saying that?
That companies have cherry picked the BS bingo phrases with 'just cultures,' engagement survey(s) and Hawaiian shirt Fridays, has not generated improved anything is because staff know better.Whilst watching the left hand, hearing the weasel words, management continue with the right hand building more eloquent IR strategies and undermining security to lower labour unit cost. The sincerity of the mission statement isn't the experience of the staff. They know better.
Aviation is a team sport, a dynamic team game. Try getting an inadequate little CEO to realise that his car accident on the way to work causes no delay and thus no consequence to an airline's operations and revenue, whilst the Captain of the outbound flight's fender bender brings the whole thing to a grinding halt is a hard thing to do.