Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line free essay sample

Airlines is the largest successful low-fare airline carrier in the United States. â€Å"The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit. † (Southwest Airlines, 2012) Southwest operates the business based on its core values: culture, philosophy, and spirit. â€Å"People are important†¦each one makes a difference. † (Surenderan, E. 2010, March 6) They are committed to establishing transparency to their employees, customers, and stakeholders with Southwest’s One Report, which is the framework for their triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Southwest understands the changes in the workforce and the global implications. They recognize employees look for organizations that â€Å"develop an empowered culture where employees routinely come up with ways to improve performance; sustainability is one of the areas employees focus on. (Hitchcock, 2012, Kindle Location 4021-4022) Southwest also realizes consumers are also â€Å"telling individual business units that sustainability issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change mattered to them. We will write a custom essay sample on Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (Senge, 2008, Kindle Locations 1630-1631) The One Report details their corporate social responsibility in relation to sustainability efforts, measurements, and environmental considerations. People One of Southwest greatest strengths, and the main reason why I would work for the organization, is the way their employees are treated. Southwest believes â€Å"our People are our greatest strength and an enduring long-term competitive advantage. † (Southwest, 2011) Their performance management strategy is â€Å"employees, not customers come first!!! † (Surenderan, E. , 2010, March 6); the belief is happy employees will ultimately result in happy customers. The organization promotes a culture for creativity and innovation, which in turn, improves operational effectiveness and customer service. Southwest offers their employees â€Å"the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Customer. (Southwest, 2012) Consumer Reports has recognized Southwest as the â€Å"Airline Customer Satisfaction Leader. † Planet Another reason why I would work for Southwest is due to their sustainability efforts. Southwest has collaborated with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) the two internationally recognized frameworks for communicating the triple bottom line. The GRI provides organizations a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is adopted around the world; The CDP helps manage environmental risks and provides strategies for climate change. One initiative Southwest implemented is the co-mingled waste recycle program, which has diverted over 2,600 tons of waste from landfills. Southwest has also teamed up with the Student Conservation Association (CSA) to conduct conservation service projects nationwide; their combined efforts have generated over 114,000 volunteered hours towards giving back to the community. Profit Lastly, an important factor for wanting to work for Southwest is the stability of the organization. Southwest uses One Report as a means of measurement and reporting sustainability initiatives in regards to performance, people, and planet. Record revenue Performance led to our 39th consecutive year of profitability—a feat unmatched in U. S. aviation history. † (Southwest, 2011) Their continual success has led to the acquisition of AirTran Airways in 2011, and Better Investing has rated Southwest as one of the better investing â€Å"Top 100 Companies. † Southwest understands that â€Å"qua lity corporate governance is a necessary foundation for achieving long-term Shareholder, Employee, and Customer value. † (Southwest 2011) Conclusion In conclusion, Southwest considers corporate social responsibility and the changes in the workforce in order to maintain operationalize sustainability. They understand that employees not only look growth opportunities from an organization, they are searching for organizations that are economically and environmentally sustainable. Their customers are doing the same, they are looking for organizations’ corporate social responsibly and to become more environmentally sustainable.