• Identify an organization (or unit within an organization) that you believe excels in high-quality relationships and enabling conditions for team performance. This organization can be from any industry.
• Develop a scorecard for evaluating the organization or unit. At a minimum, you should include information on the mission and philosophy of the organization or unit, strategic projects, and analysis and implementation of findings. Building & Implementing a Balanced Scorecard.
• Make your case based on available first-hand or second-hand data about how the organization scores in terms of relational capability and enabling conditions for team performance. You will need to submit your scorecard as well as the evidence you utilized to your instructor.
• Based on your analysis, prepare a 8- to 10-page paper. You will also submit the rough draft of a 20- to 30-slide presentation based on this paper in Week 5.
In the paper:
• Describe the selected organization or unit. Include the following details:
o A statement and an introduction regarding why this organization excels in team building and high-quality relationships
o A description of what prompted the organization to focus on these variables, if known
o The rationale for selecting the issue-its significance or importance in relation to team-building efforts and the success of the organization
• Summarize the processes or programs that make this organization successful.
• Describe the attributes that made those processes or programs effective.
• Explain how the programs might be translated to your present organization. If you do not currently work, refer to a previous employer or discuss with someone employed and glean how they feel the programs or processes could be applied to their organization or unit.
• Include all sources used in the reference list in APA format. You need to include at least five cited references.
• Include a reference to the scorecard developed and used.
• Include references to substantiate the claim that the organization excels in quality relationships. The second-hand information must be correctly cited.
Building High-Performing Teams: A Case Study of Southwest Airlines
Why Southwest Airlines?
Southwest Airlines stands out for its exceptional company culture, fostering strong relationships and enabling conditions that empower teams to excel. Here’s why:
Prompting Focus on Team Building and Relationships:
Southwest’s founders, Herb Kelleher and Rollin King, deliberately established a company culture that emphasized fun, teamwork, and employee ownership. They believed these factors were crucial for long-term success and customer satisfaction in the competitive airline industry.
Significance of Relationships and Enabling Conditions:
Strong relationships and enabling conditions are essential for team performance because:
Southwest’s Success Factors
Several processes and programs contribute to Southwest’s success in building high-performing teams:
Effectiveness Attributes:
These programs are effective because:
Translating to Other Organizations:
While replicating Southwest’s unique culture entirely might not be feasible, aspects can be adapted:
Next Steps:
Developing a scorecard based on these success factors will allow for a more detailed evaluation of Southwest’s performance in fostering high-quality relationships and enabling conditions for team success. This scorecard, along with a presentation summarizing the findings, will be compiled and submitted in subsequent weeks.