Strategic Management

The learning objective of a case analysis is for the student to apply important strategic management concepts to a real-life situation. A good case analysis paper is original work that reflects critical thinking. To ensure that important strategic management concepts are incorporated in the paper, a number of key questions must be addressed, and these are outlined below. 1.    What are the key industry conditions which render profits elusive for airlines? Using the five forces model of competition, what does the structure of the industry reveal about competitive rivalry and profit potential?2.    Discuss Southwest Airlines’ business-level strategy and its record of success. How is the company stacking up against other major airlines today? Are there any strategic shortcomings that need to be addressed?3.    Identify and explore the opportunities and challenges presented by Southwest Airlines’ acquisition of AirTran. What are the merits and concerns of using the acquisition to launch the company’s expansion into international territories?4.    Does Southwest Airlines have a sustainable competitive advantage? What strategic recommendations can be made to strengthen the durability of the company’s competitive advantage; or do conditions suggest that it is time for a shift in Southwest Airlines’ strategic direction to achieve long-term competitiveness against its rivals?A case analysis is a written document that a student composes that addresses key circumstances in the case and incorporates many of the strategic management concepts that have been presented to date. A case analysis must reflect original, critical thinkingan opportunity for a student to provide original, critical thinking in a written form that incorporates many of the strategic management concepts that have been presented to date.To ensure that important strategic management concepts are incorporated in the paper, a number of key questions must be addressed.