Motivation and Self Learning in Aviation Industry - Case Study Example

Motivation and Self Learning – Aviation Industry February 2007 Abstract The paper discusses the work place of an airline manager, describing the job, its complexities and intricacies with respect to information processing and information technology in the work place. Additionally, the paper discusses the SHELL model and the WICKEN’S Model with respect to the aviation industry in general, and the airline manager in particular. The paper has been done in APA format, with sources appended in the same format. Outline I. Introduction II. Workplace in the Aviation Scenario III. Information Processing and its technicalities IV. The SHELL Model in the Workplace V. The Wicken’s Model for Information Processing VI. Summary and Conclusion Motivation and Self Learning – Aviation Industry Introduction Aviation industry involves complex jobs with respect to the work environment, when a comparison is done with; say for example, a bank, or a consumer goods organization. The typical organization includes the traditional functions and departments, along with the usual MIS systems, decision support systems and such. Even ERP systems CRM solutions and supply chain management may be a part of the organization. However, in the aviation industry, the nature of the organization or the airline is not practical to be traditional. The organization or airline needs to be real time and online, in this networked economy and it needs to have information from different parts of the world, integrated and up to date, due to the nature and function of aviation. In this paper, the theme would be to discuss the work place of the airline manager in the aviation industry, and how the SHELL Model and the WICKEN’S Model can be applied with respect to his or her job. Additionally, information technology and processing along with its technicalities is also discussed. Workplace in the Aviation Scenario As elucidated upon earlier, the scenario under consideration is that of the airline manager in any particular airline. Therefore, it is imperative that we discuss his or her technical and human skills that are required for the position. This would help establish a base to define the information processing required for the job. An airline manager is of several types, if we discuss the job profile. Like in any other typical organization, there are several departments through any airline, and thus each department’s managers have different job profiles. A typical airline sales manager would therefore, have to perform activities related to the sales and purchasing of tickets and booking of seats in a particular flight. This airline sales manager would additionally, need to know and work on the required software like Sable and other management software. Moreover, regarding the airlines, the job description would involve customer services, particularized client management and may involve managing services and incentives in order to win more clients and keep current ones. The above was a practical job description for an aviation sales manager. Additionally, it should be analyzed how the work place of the airlines sales manager is organized, and what work he or she needs to perform. The work place of the airlines sales manager would practically include that he or she works with a few team members in the sales department in order to analyze and evaluate the amount of customers availing incentives, and the number of customers registering and booking flights. The ideology is that the aviation Sales Manager needs to focus on is customer orientation and sales orientation. Information Processing and its technicalities Coming on to the information processing and the technicalities involved in information processing, it has to be understood, that for an airline sales manager, it becomes imperative that the manager understands and is able to analyze sales information to discover patterns and trends in particular types of sales information on the basis of variables that define sales. For example, one year data of bookings and canceled registrations can provide immense amount of knowledge to the sales manager on the basis of variables including demographics, different holiday seasons geographical locations, political and economic conditions etc. Additionally, for the aviation Sales Manager, it is also important to be able to disseminate the knowledge to his or her employees and be able to gain sales accordingly, by introducing or promoting the organization or incentives likewise. In the globalized and technical world that it is today, the manager needs to be familiar and comprehensively knowledgeable about the several communication, management and information systems involved with the aviation industry in general and sales and supply management in particular. As a whole, the workplace and the work performed in the typical workplace of a sales manager in the aviation industry can be analyzed through the SHELL model and the WICKEN model as explained in the paper. The SHELL Model in the Workplace The SHELL model is about motivation and self learning in an organization, where individuals on the basis of their own individuality attain knowledge through intrinsic motivation. Any learning organization works on the principles of self learning, motivation and knowledge based values and norms. About self learning and self directed learning, Knowles states that: In its broadest meaning, […] as a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying human and material resources for learning, choosing and implementing appropriate learning strategies and evaluating learning outcomes (Knowles, 1975) However, on similar principles, the SHELL model is based on learning that focuses on the individual and his or her environment with which it interacts (Hilgard and Bower, 1966; Gagne, 1977) Te individual has therefore a learning capability that comes from his or her internal aspects that include values, knowledge, skills and others. The model is therefore on the basis of the internal capabilities and abilities of the human mind that involves motivation, cognition, Meta cognition, knowledge and other interrelated fields (Straka, 1999.) In the aviation industry in general, and the sales manager in particular would use his or her knowledge and technical skills primarily to learn and manage his or her sales function. Additionally, he or she would require immense intrinsic or inner motivation in order to get work completed and develop incentive and management plans for sales of the particular airlines that he or she works for. However, it is important to note that the culture of the airlines organization, and the principles, values and norms of that particular airline is a big motivator and influencing aspect for the airlines sales manager, since he or she would be affected by these forces in the organization. Moreover, social integration, autonomy and competence are the core areas that the sales manager needs to focus on (Straka, 1999.) The Wicken’s Model for Information Processing The WICKEN’S model for information processing primarily deals with the cognitive principles of the human mind and how it interacts and thinks in order to attain information and use information systems and technology for his or her purposes. Human capabilities of course, however, have their limitations and their problems with it concerns information systems, since they fail after a certain level of physical and mental involvement. The ideology is of course to understand in the WICKEN’S model, the human characteristics that relate directly or indirectly to the usage of information systems. Ergonomics comes into play with this respect where systems and workplace designs need to be adapted to the human needs and capabilities (Wickens, 1999) In the workplace of a sales manager related to the aviation industry, even though his or job is not a technical one involving air traffic control, the work that the sales manager would need to perform would be related to information systems – like Enterprise Resource planning systems, Customer Relationship management systems and Supply Chain Management systems, in any case. (Wickens, 1999) In the aviation industry in particular, ergonomics and cognitive application of the human mind to information systems and complex situations are quite imperative. Air traffic control, engineering and air piloting involve a number of difficult tasks involving several brain functions. These jobs are highly technical in nature. On the other hand, a sales manager related to a particular airline would focus on customer orientation and sales orientation in terms of attaining maximum bookings from new and old customers. Such a task involves mental capacity and capability in finding out patterns, performing trend analysis and be able to undertake incentive and management plans in order to attain more clients and more sales. In such a case, therefore, it becomes imperative for a sales manager to understand and be knowledgeable about the computer and information systems surrounding him or her, apart from being an expert in terms of his or her ability to sell the company as such. Summary and Conclusion In the end, it must be mentioned that by analyzing a job in the aviation industry, using the SHELL and WICKEN’S model, it is understood that the jobs require immense technical and cognitive skills in order to face situations of threat and calm, and to be able to use one’s mind to handle and rectify situations immediately and effectively. The SHELL model and the WICKENS model clarify and emphasize on human perception and learning and the ability of cognition in order to face technical and information technology challenges and systems. In the aviation industry, unlike any other industry, employees face a number of challenges with regard to information and its processing due to information technology and technical knowledge of machinery. The above paper has aimed to explain such in terms of the two models defined. Bibliography 1. Gagne R.M (1977) The Conditions of Learning. New York: Holt 2. Hilgard E. R. and Bower G.H (1996) Theories of learning. New York: Appleton. 3. Knowles, M.S. (1975): Self-directed learning. Chicago: Follett 4. Straka, G. A. (1999.) Perceived work conditions and self-directed learning in the process of. Work. International Journal of Training and Development 3(4) 240–249. 5. Wickens, C.D. (1999) Engineering Psychology and Human Performance Bell and Howell Company. Read More