From Worst to First: Behind the Scenes of Continental's Remarkable Comeback - Softcover

Bethune, Gordon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471356522 ISBN 13: 9780471356523

Publisher: Wiley, 1999

Synopsis

The numerous anecdotes alone are worth the price of the book . . . most readers will find themselves asking why everyone doesn't run a business as preached by the chief executive of Continental Airlines.-The Washington Post Book World

. . . in an age where managing seems increasingly complicated, some of Bethune's prescriptions are refreshingly straightforward.-Business Week

From Worst to First outlines Gordon Bethune's triumphs . . . about the turnaround he's led at Continental, a perennial basket case that's become an industry darling.-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

From Worst to First is [Gordon Bethune's] story of Continental Airlines' turnaround under his command . . . The blueprint has worked . . . Fortune magazine named Continental the company that has 'raised its overall marks more than any other in the 1990s.'-The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

All of Gordon Bethune's proceeds from this book will be donated to the We Care Trust, a nonprofit organization that assists Continental Airlines' employees and their families in times of need.

About this title

Review:

What do you do if you're running the worst airline in the country,one that customers hate and that's been through Chapter 11 twice in the last 10 years? If you're lucky, you'll call Gordon Bethune. Before Bethune arrived, Continental had been ravaged by the likes of Frank Lorenzo and airline deregulation--it was considered the laughingstock of the airline industry in the United States. Under Bethune's leadership, Continental turned itself around to become one of the most respected and reliable airlines in the industry. From Worst to First describes how Bethune, with a lot of luck and the right combination of people, was able to transform Continental from an also-ran into an award-winning company. --Harry C. Edwards

From the Publisher:

Continental Airlines knows what "rock-bottom" means. The struggling airline company went to bankruptcy court, not once but twice, and the employees used to rip off the corporate logos from their uniforms. But, thankfully, Gordon Bethune took a gamble and decided to turn the company around--really around. Since Bethune has taken over the helm, Continental has been rated first or second in baggage handling, on-time performance, and receiving the fewest customer complaints. Employee morale and profits are way up, and the airline has been dubbed "Airline of the Year" by Air Transport World magazine. So, what's Bethune's secret? Excellent management and leadership skills, and a healthy dose of common sense. In this book, Bethune explains all of his business ideas and strategies for the first time.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0471356522
• ISBN 13: 9780471356523
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304