'Intersect Benchmark Swot Analysis Paper\r'

' bilk Benchmark tog up digest Paper Kargonn M Lane MMPBL/520 Transformational Leadership kinsfolk 26, 2011 Steve Williams Small vocation owners and giving medications fight for survival is turn a part of severallyday conversations, headline parvenus, move around topics, and radio talk. line of merchandisees around the piece atomic number 18 try to avoid the graveyard for businesses. This is a place where unfulfilled businesses rest after consumers closes their wallets and corporate revenue flump beyond repair.The fight for survival is real and the challenges go about turn over the potential to bring a acculturation to a once advanced ideal. Strategic prep is a requi personnel casualty tool for an establishment or small business to know where the keep company is headed and what content the final ca custom will get the physical composition there. This curriculum may consist of looking at the geological formation’s strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). This paper will benchmark cardinal well know companies while using a SWOT analysis to compare and contrast rent and salmagundi finaglement. SWOT analysis is the buildation for twist a strategic plan. SWOT analysis identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and togs an organization is facing. The advantage of completing a SWOT analysis is the meeted information that may be determinationd to empower the organization done twist on the strengths, identifying and everywherecoming weaknesses, using opportunities for advancement, and the aptitude to in good order manage and minimize external threats” (McNamara, 2011). The two companies of choice is southwest appearancelines and conjunction History and SWOT Analysis southwestward respiratory tracts â€Å"In 1966 a group of Texas investors founded a company called Air sou-west Co. later becoming incorporated as southwestward Airline Co. in 1967. southwesterly has contract the largest domestic air passage business in the United States by the amount of passengers carried. southwestward Airlines has been in business for over 43 years as a undefeated airline, and their success has not been without a apostrophize southwestern United States devised a plan to eliminate in-flight meals, aggage transfer, and some other traditional frill to ensure lower cost. This helped south-west Airlines create a spick-and-span form of transport by competing against the automobile industry for travel (International Directory of connection Histories, 2005). southwestward added a novel twist to the airline and transportation industry that ca employ its competitors to step out of their consolation zone. Over the next several years Southwest Airlines grew larger with the waging of price wars from their competitors. In 2000 Southwest revenues were 6. billion and became known for their â€Å"Taking Care of Business” slogan. Southwest relinquish corporate perks to co ntinue to bring home the bacon their nodes with cheaper fares. Southwest’s much success was concisely followed by 9/11 terrorist attacks. â€Å"In the haze over of 9/11 Southwest’s competitors under(a)go thousands of wreakers organism laid off, lost billions of dollars, and headed for protection from the bankruptcy courts, but Southwest continued to profit” (International Directory of high society Histories, 2005). A couple of known ca hires were airlines faced highly high oil prices exchangeable never before, drastic security measures had to be taken to prevent something like this from happening again, and guests once more turned to example other forms of transportation. The loss of confidence that customers and the airlines suffered from the 9/11 hijackings cause a dismay throughout the world” (Jay, 199-2011). This fear forced Southwest Airlines to brand the necessary changes needed to over contract the present storm. Southwest plan of at tached stemmed from employee esprit de corps.Whereas other airlines were folding under pressure resulting in employee layoffs, Southwest secured the emerging of their employees through union negotiations and committing to a no lay-off policy. The airline soused allegiance to their employees raised company morale for the stakeholders. This secured the readiness of employees in the field of change. This withal was a level reflection in Southwest’s capacity in the landing field of transitional and transactional lead. Strengths In the subject area of strengths Southwest Airlines has exceled at servant lead by placing the require of every employee in front of their own.The Southwest leadership team demonstrated their cap exponent to properly manage and restrain their strategic planning fellowship in a never foreseen occurrence. Through devotion Southwest has gained mutual respect and the necessary by-in from stakeholders to declare the modern vision and directio n of the organization. Leader-member relations are at its peak inwardly the organization and posterior be contributed to the loyalty and the support shown through mail service have got. Leaders at this point may use the power of persuasion to gain the by-in from employees for the brand-new organizational direction. WeaknessOver staffing and cost is a major factor for Southwest’s authoritative built in bed for the sake of payload unfitness to reign external factors, and a high level of cognition needed for advancing. Opportunities Southwest has an chance to reevaluate task structure, implement new procedures to apply to the a la mode(p) curbed knowledge, explore new methods, vex and properly train employees, build divulge work relations, implementation of employee involved last making programs, learn about the newest technology for growth purposes, discover customer confidence, and develop leadership behaviors while expecting greater outcomes.Threats Southwest may experience a loss of morale over a period of time, advancing new and online competitors because of a lack of funding for the latest and greatest technology, turn-over in employee and leadership, permanent loss of employee confidence. Continental Airlines â€Å"Continental Airlines was founded in 1967. Continental pride themselves for acquiring simple marks: having high quality product every day f service, getting customers where they want to go on time with their baggage while sledding customers with a service of excellence recognized globally for being consistent” (International Directory of Company Histories, 2003). Continental Airline leveld on 2001 post 9/11 terrorist attacks was the fifth largest airline. The airline carries passengers, mail, and cargo throughout the world. Continental is connected to 200 airports worldwide. This amazing portfolio did not come without a cost. In the 1980s Continental found themselves being labeled as the poster nestling for hav ing bad employee relationships and management turnover because of a antagonistic corporate raider. This bad combination cost the company one decade of declining sales and pecuniary loss. In 1995 Continental experienced a turn around. A plan was put into place to renegotiate Continental’s debt, persuaded Boeing to defer delivery of any planes on order, and arranges concessions from aircraft lessors. advanced rank official was also fired and replaced with new high rating staff” (International Directory of Company Histories, 2003). As years passed Continental experienced a want overdue financial break then 9/11 happened and caused a downside in their profits. â€Å"Immediately, after 9/11 terrorist attacks Continental laid-off 20% of their workforce, which totals 12,000 employees. some of those employees returned to work within a year but morale was definitely affected by the airline’s current situation.Continental’s high ranking official Bethune did not take this situation equivocation down; he lobbied for the government to provide an industry-wide bailout. A fourth quarter loss of $149 million left over(p) the airline $95 million in the red for the year. The airline made a conscience finale to park 61 of its jets and 23 turboprops as business returned to normal for the airlines. In an effort to reanimate the hope and confidence of the stakeholders, tractholders, and financial capital Continental organize an alliance with Delta, and Northwest.A ten-year code-shared agreement allowed customers to share frequently nib miles between the three airlines. This alliance shared 36% of shared domestic traffic” (International Directory of Company Histories, 2003). Strengths Continental has demonstrated their ability as leaders to make a tuff decision in generation of crisis, regain customer imprecate after 911, strategize for better solutions, regained employee trust through the rehiring process, and setting an example for e mployees to follow.Ultimately, Continental leadership also displayed a servant leadership style that was able to transform the organization from on level to the next. Weakness Continental took what may be perceived as taking the easy path out by laying off employees kinda of applying a workable strategic plan that could have benefited both parties. Through employee lay-offs the morale within the organization is at its all-time low and stress level are at a high which, could lead to harmful situations. This has caused leader-member relations to diminish.The leaders demonstrated their inability to trust the workers to help within the organization’s crisis. Opportunities Continental has an hazard to redevelop a new strategic plan, build stakeholders relationships, pull to leader-member relations, reestablish their target of power, build the leaders within the organization, use compulsive reinforcements to regain trust, educate employees in the area of stress, opportunity to correct troubled areas create option strategies for workable resistance to change, and redefine and create a new vision for the organization.Other opportunities that Continental may have is greater work commitments once the storm has passed, hiring highly suffice employees, lower or expand the span of control for build a stronger organization, and target elements of change. Threats The recent decision to lay off employees has stumbleed a fear within the organization that could viable led to heavy turnover, financial ruin due to the fear of flying, market changes and expert advancement for competitors, mergers and acquisition to regain loss, recession, and conflicts.In comparison Southwest, Continental, and interbreed has demonstrated situation control through their nimble work environment on every level. Although, each has also demonstrated a different leadership style the main focus to exempt the organization and secure the next was the first priority of the leaders . distributively organization has also revealed their position of power through the necessary decisions made by the leaders and their ability to brainstorm to come up with the better(p) come-at-able solution for the organization’s future.Each organization was also able to pin point their weakness for future corrections to be made. Although the leadership style may differ each leader has demonstrated leadership skills that have earned the trust of their employee in the area of growth. Each organization also has a good repetition which preceded their current situation. In contrast Southwest has gained the by-in from employees through a more trusting fount of leadership style whereas, Continental and Intersect has used their position of power to cause employee layoffs or to spark fear into current employees.Southwest lessen the chance of harmful threats in the area of employee stress whereas, Continental and Intersect decision has raised the level of stress and guess threat s. In conclusion, each organization has its pro and cons that possibly intertwined to created better future business decisions. The current use of a SWOT analysis has the potential to gather information while empowering each organization for future success. | | Strengths| Weaknesses| Opportunities| Threads| Intersect| Knowledgeable workers, Confident leadersAbility to share the vision of the organization with others. Proper staffing for the advancement of the new direction. Void of a backup plan for this pillow slip of calamityResistance to changeAbility to control stress levels within the organization. High turn-over ratesCustomer dissatisfactionRestructuring neededDefining of goals and new alignment. | Regain customer confidenceOpportunity to brainstorm for the best possible solution for their current situationEstablish long-term goalsBuild magnetised leadership style vs. using force or power for persuasion.Expansion of knowledge base for growth purposesOpportunity for goal se tting| Loss of confidence and abate of ProfitabilityNew Entrants merchandise changes| Southwest Airlines| Southwest exceled in the area of being servant leaders when the organization put the needs of their employees first by refusing to layoff employee. The union negotiations demonstrated the organization’s ability to dominate internal forces for change through job satisfaction by operative with the union and not taking advantage of a stressful situation.Southwest through Charismatic leadership modify their work environment through goals, values,needs, beliefs, and aspirations. Leader-member relations are at its peak within the organization and back end be contributed to the loyalty and the support shown through situation control. | Void of a backup plan for this example of disasterOver staffing and cost is a major factor for Southwest’s current situation for the sake of commitment inability to control external factors, and a higher(prenominal) level of knowledge needed for advancing. Regain customer confidenceOpportunity to brainstorm for the best possible solution for their current situationEstablish long-term goalsExpansion of knowledge base for growth purposes| trade changesLoss of confidence and decrease of ProfitabilityNew Entrants Over staffing and cost is a major factor for Southwest’s current situation for the sake of commitment inability to control external factors, and a higher level of knowledge needed for advancing. Continental Airlines| Continental has demonstrated their ability as leaders to make a tuff decision in a times of crisis, regain customer trust after 911, strategize for better solutions, regained employee trust through the rehiring process, and setting an example for employees to follow. | Inability to save a loss of job and secure the future of those workers.Establish employee trust and confidenceVoid of a back-up plan for this type of disaster| Regain customer confidenceOpportunity to brainstorm for the b est possible solution for their current situationEstablish long-term goalsExpansion of knowledge base for growth purposesRedevelop a new strategic planbuild stakeholders relationships, recommit to leader-member relations, reestablish their osition of power, build the leaders within the organization, use positive reinforcements to regain trust, educate employees in the area of stress, opportunity to correct troubled areas create alternative strategies for possible resistance to change, and redefine and create a new vision for the organization. hiring highly qualified employees, decrease or expand the span of control for building a stronger organization, and target elements of change. Market changesLoss of confidence and decrease of ProfitabilityNew Entrants heavy turnover, financial ruin due to the fear of flying, market changes and technological advancement for competitors, mergers and acquisition to regain loss, recession, and conflicts. | References McNamara, C. (2011). Free Manag ement Library. Retrieved from http://managementhelp. org/strategicplanning/basics. tm#anchor1434082 International Directory of Company Histories. (2005). FundingUniverse. Retrieved from http://www. fundinguniverse. com/company-histories/AirTran-Holdings-Inc-Company-History. html International Directory of Company Histories. (2003). FundingUniverse. Retrieved from http://www. fundinguniverse. com/company-histories/Continental-Airlines-Inc-Company-History. html\r\n'