FedEx Overview

FedEx Overview

FedEx is the world’s largest express delivery, ground small-parcel delivery, less-than-truckload freight delivery, supply chain management, customs brokerage, trade facilitation and e-commerce solutions company with more than 145,000 employees worldwide and delivering more than 3.2 million packages daily. They command a fleet of 634 aircraft and more than 42,500 vehicles. FedEx offers various international packages and document delivery services to 214 countries, as well as international freight services and also offers commercial and military charter services. On 12-Feb-2004, FedEx Group acquired Kinko's, Inc. Now it also provides document solutions and business services, including copying and printing services, signs and graphics, videoconferencing, high-speed wireless and wired Internet access and computer usage.

FedEx is best known for its by-line of “when it absolutely, positively has to get there”. This is but one reason FedEx is the leader in the industry. Fred Smith founded FedEx in April of 1973. Smith incorporated such management principles that have made FedEx an overnight success. These principles have made FedEx employees show unprecedented dedication to their work and to their company. On August 20, 1997 – Federal Express Corp. distributed an approximate $20 million Special Appreciation Bonus to nearly 90,000 U.S. operations employees in recognition of their extraordinary efforts. It’s no idle boast to say that they are a family.

One reason FedEx is a corporate leader is it’s an organization filled with individual leaders. Indeed, the company has designed the process by which it turns rank-and- file employees into middle managers (and then senior leaders) with as much creativity and attention to detail as the process by which it sorts packages in its Memphis hub.

According to FedEx, its best leaders share nine personal attributes such as charisma, individual consideration, intellectual stimulation, courage, dependability, flexibility, integrity, judgment and respect for others, which the company defines with remarkable specificity. FedEx also has a system for rating aspiring leaders on whether they posses these attributes. The flat management structure minimized the distance between leaders and frontline workers. This has an affect of empowering employees and expanding their responsibilities. Employees who feel empow...

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...s about issues of consequence, shift them to higher level needs, influences them to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the company, and inspires them to work harder than they had originally expected.

Leaders must be loyal to their employees, seek partnership rather than impose patriarchy. They must have well-honed sense of duty and bearers of change, while being able to take criticism as well as give it. Transformational leadership starts at the top. Fred Smith, through these principles, has made FedEx into a world-class leader in the overnight delivery industry. Smith leads the industry and follows no one. He inspires his workers by doing and providing an example by which they can follow. The LEAP process that he initiated demonstrates the dedication of FedEx for continuous improvement and opportunity in management. LEAP gave FedEx employees an added incentive to dedicate their careers with the company knowing that the program will help them move-up in the company’s corporate ladder. With the organizations strong leadership, which gives emphasis on employee satisfaction, it is no surprise that FedEx continues to be one of the most successful global companies.