You have been told the HR Director is pleased with the work you have completed for the organization and would like to take your contribution to the next level. She would like you to review several strategic reports on the organization and provide feedback on how you think Southwest HR should move forward.
Review the recommended sources in addition to your own research.
Compile a strategy recommendation to the HR Director to be used for company-wide decisions. Include the following information in your report:
An executive summary of the HR strategy project
An analysis of current strategies and issues
Identify the type of strategy Southwest Airlines is following.
Identify 3 HRM implications for Southwest Airlines.
Develop and justify business strategies for each of the 3 HRM implications.
Determine an HR strategy.
Review the Southwest Airlines Co. SWOT Analysis via the “Business Source Complete: SWOT Analyses”
Use an additional source in your recommendation. Cite all sources.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
HR Strategy Recommendation for Southwest Airlines
Executive Summary
This HR strategy project aims to provide recommendations to Southwest Airlines for enhancing their human resource management practices. By analyzing the current strategies and issues, identifying the type of strategy being followed, highlighting HRM implications, and developing business strategies, this report will guide Southwest Airlines in optimizing their HR functions for organizational success.
Analysis of Current Strategies and Issues
Southwest Airlines has historically focused on a people-centric approach, valuing its employees as a key differentiator in the competitive airline industry. However, recent challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation sector and evolving workforce dynamics necessitate a review of existing HR strategies to align with changing business needs.
Type of Strategy
Southwest Airlines follows a differentiation strategy by prioritizing employee engagement, customer service excellence, and operational efficiency. This strategy sets them apart from competitors by offering a unique value proposition centered around employee empowerment and customer satisfaction.
HRM Implications for Southwest Airlines
1. Talent Acquisition and Retention: With the industry facing a talent shortage and increased competition for skilled professionals, Southwest Airlines needs to enhance its recruitment efforts, employer branding, and retention strategies to attract and retain top talent.
2. Employee Development and Training: Investing in continuous learning and development programs will be crucial to upskill employees, enhance job satisfaction, and drive performance improvement across the organization.
3. Diversity and Inclusion: Embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive workplace culture will not only enhance employee engagement but also drive innovation and creativity within the organization.
Business Strategies for HRM Implications
1. Talent Acquisition and Retention: Implement targeted recruitment campaigns, offer competitive compensation packages, provide career growth opportunities, and establish a robust employee referral program to attract and retain top talent.
2. Employee Development and Training: Develop personalized training programs, establish mentorship initiatives, promote a culture of continuous learning, and leverage technology for e-learning platforms to enhance employee skills and competencies.
3. Diversity and Inclusion: Create diversity councils, implement unconscious bias training, establish affinity groups, set diversity goals, and ensure equal opportunities for all employees to foster an inclusive workplace environment.
HR Strategy
The recommended HR strategy for Southwest Airlines is to align HR practices with the organization’s core values of empathy, efficiency, and excellence. This entails prioritizing employee well-being, fostering a culture of innovation, and leveraging technology to streamline HR processes for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.
SWOT Analysis
According to the SWOT analysis of Southwest Airlines, their strengths lie in their strong brand reputation, employee-centric culture, operational efficiency, and loyal customer base. Opportunities include expanding routes, enhancing digital capabilities, and diversifying revenue streams. Weaknesses involve vulnerability to economic downturns and threats from intense competition, regulatory challenges, and external disruptions.
Sources:
– Southwest Airlines Co. SWOT Analysis – Business Source Complete
– Additional source: Industry reports on aviation HR trends
