SESSION ABSTRACT: Survival provides strong inspiration, and most companies focus on costs when revenues are down and the outlook turns bad. But how can a company motivate employees to feel ownership of managing costs when earnings are strong and growth is a way of life? Southwest Airlines celebrated 30 years of consecutive profitability in 2001 and remains the fourth largest domestic carrier in terms of customers boarded. At Southwest, cost management is not an occasional initiative; it's not just a part of the culture; being low cost IS the culture. In this session you will learn how Southwest Airlines has established this culture and specifically how the University for People (Southwest's Corporate University) has used innovative methods to drive home the importance of the bottom-line to every employee.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Recognize the difference between having a low cost focus and creating a low cost culture. Define the role of training in establishing and maintaining a cost conscious culture. Transfer the fundamentals of Southwest's training approach to your own organization.