Culture and Motivation at Southwest

What is the organizational culture of Southwest Airlines like? How does it affect the way the employees behave?

What are some potential sources of intrinsic motivation for Southwest employees?
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Anthony Hernandez Vazquez

Southwest has a very fun outlook on their work plan. Employees are loving and relaxed people who like to have fun. Over the past few weeks after overlooking Southwest Airlines, I see how they have turned their airlines into something very adventurous with how they celebrate their holidays and how the employees are always cheerful and seem to create small activities for their customers to enjoy.

I believe the Southwest employees get motivation from seeing the joy and laughter they bring their customers with their silly songs or ways they celebrate holidays, like having the attendants dress up as leprechauns for St. Patrick's day. One way I also feel the employees get motivation is by the way they are self managed, these employees can make decisions are most topics without having to go to the higher ups, this gives the employees more entitlement to feel like they very valued in the company.

Jones, G. R. & George, M. J. (2016). Contemporary Management (9th. ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education

1. What is the organizational culture of Southwest like?

2. How does it affect the way employees behave?

3. What are some potential sources of intrinsic motivation for Southwest employees?