SOUTHWEST AIRLINES - PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING2Southwest Airlines - Performance Management and TrainingPerformance management is a complex system of processes that aims to provide insightto management into employees’ productivity and how they contribute to the overallorganizational goals. Evaluation of employee performance is conducted through assessments,and based on feedback, managers and employees work together to achieve organizational goals.Employees and the organization benefit from hiring individuals whose values align with those ofthe organization.Southwest Airlines – Company OverviewSouthwest Airlines is one of the largest low-cost carriers in the world.With more than60,000 employees serving 130 million passengers annually, it offers lowest airfare, and the onlymajor US airline that does not charge baggage fees.In 2019, Southwest carried over 134 millionpassengers, hired 6,756 employees out of over 350,000 applicants, and handed out close to 90-million pretzel bags.The 2019 annual net income for the company was $2.3 billion.In 2019,Forbes’ recognized Southwest Airlines as the Best Employer.Southwest Airlines stands out fromthe rest of the airlines with its superior customer service and excellent employee engagement andcommitment to the company brand.Herbert Kelleher, the late CEO of Southwest Airlines,believed that hiring people for their attitude was far more important than hiring for skill becauseimproving leadership and management style was possible, unlike personality (Gaille, 2013).“Effective performance management can tell top performers they are valued, encouragecommunication between managers and their employees, establish consistent standards forevaluating employees, and help the organization identify its strongest and weakest employees”(Noe, et al., 2020).
