Does the AirTran acquisition make good strategic sense for Southwest? What strategic issues and problems do Gary Kelly and Southwest executives need to address as they proceed to close the deal with AirTran and contemplate how best to integrate AirTran’s operations and AirTran’s employees into Southwest? What weaknesses or problems do you see at Southwest Airlines?

I need help with an assignment for a strategic planning class. There are two questions total (assignment 1 and assignment 2) that need to be answered. They need to be a minimum of 500 words each. The references need to be listed in APA format. I need by tomorrow night Thursday 1/17 by 7pm (EST).

Assignment # 1 (link to article is in the attachment)

(1) identifying all the pertinent issues that management needs to address, (2) perform whatever analysis and evaluation (e.g., Five Forces, SWOT, PESTLE, financial ratios, etc.) as appropriate, and (3) propose an action plan and set of recommendations addressing the issues you have identified.

Specifically, address what grade would you give Southwest management for the job it has done in crafting the company’s strategy? Why? What is it that you like or dislike about the strategy? Why? Does Southwest have a winning strategy? Why or why not?

Assignment #2

Does the AirTran acquisition make good strategic sense for Southwest? What strategic issues and problems do Gary Kelly and Southwest executives need to address as they proceed to close the deal with AirTran and contemplate how best to integrate AirTran’s operations and AirTran’s employees into Southwest? What weaknesses or problems do you see at Southwest Airlines?