Leadership in Global Aviation Maintenance: Strategies for Qantas

This report examines leadership in global aviation maintenance, using Qantas as a case study to highlight the significance of maintenance and safety standards. It emphasizes the importance of core values, employee morale, regulatory compliance, and safety protocols in enhancing profitability and brand image. The report discusses how leadership methods, such as democratic and charismatic approaches, can improve employee morale and ensure adherence to regulations. It further explores strategies for maintaining inspection processes, promoting safety, and addressing non-compliance. Additionally, the report addresses overcoming ethical and cultural biases in a diverse workplace, ultimately aiming to provide insights into effective leadership practices within the aviation maintenance sector. This document is available on Desklib, where students can find a wealth of solved assignments and past papers.

Running head: Leadership in global aviation maintenance
Leadership in global aviation
maintenance
2018

Leadership in global aviation maintenance
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
How can enforce the company’s stated organizational philosophy and values............................................3
Leadership methods will use to improve morale.........................................................................................4
How will ensure the compliance of all applicable regulations.....................................................................5
How will ensure maintenance and inspection processes are followed.........................................................7
How will communicate and promote the significance of safety..................................................................8
How will monitor and supervise maintenance activities..............................................................................9
How will address employees who fail to comply with stated regulations....................................................9
How will overcome ethical and cultural biases in a diverse workplace environment................................10
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................................................12
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
Introduction
The main aim of this report is to discuss the role of maintenance and safety standards in
the airline industry. Qantas airline has been taken in the task as an example to identify and
measure the significance of maintenance department. Qantas airline is one of the leading and
biggest airlines Corporation which provides aircraft services to customers across the world. The
paper further explains the significance of core values, employees moral, rules and safety
standards that help the firm to uplift profitability and returns in the competitive market. Along
with this, significance culture and ethics also have been discussed in detail in the task.
Qantas was incorporated in the Queensland outback in 1920, the company is growing to
be an Australia’s biggest and unique domestic international airline in the global market. It is a
long distance airline and one of the biggest and leading brands in the global market. The
company has developed and improved a reputation and brand image for excellence in operational
reliability, safety, customer service, and engineering and maintenance. The main business of the
firm is the transportation of various customer using two complimentary Airline brand such as
Jetstar and Qantas. Along with this, it operates and manages subsidiary businesses including
other airlines and businesses in specialist markets like as Q catering. This airline is based in the
Sydney suburb of Mascot with its main hub at Sydney Airport (Qantas, 2018). The main mission
of the company is to meet the long-term needs and requirements of the customers by providing
excellent transportation experience to them. It has been stated that the firm is concerned about its
long-term and desired vision to manage and operate as the biggest premium airline in the global
market. The firm focuses on the various key objectives in order to attain vision effectively and
efficiently. It is fast growing and unique organization in the aviation industry that is further
termed as the second largest and excellent airlines in the global market. Qantas provides ample
of travelling services to approx 19.7% passengers from different countries in all over the world
(Qantas, 2018).
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
How an employee can enforce the company’s stated organizational philosophy and values
Every company possesses effectively and unique core values to drive the business
activities and operations. Qantas focuses on the core values and capabilities to overcome the
rivalries and to build a dynamic image in the minds of the customers globally (Malighetti, Meoli,
Paleari & Redondi, 2011). The core values also help in overcoming the issues that have been
dealt by Qantas due to improper and ineffective maintenance procedure. The main core values of
Qantas including together, Genuine, inventive, experienced and optimistic (Greve, Rowley &
Shipilov, 2013). The company defines core values as the guiding rules and principles for a
business. They are the moral compass within an organization that evaluates and analyze the
actions and decision in the competitive market (Crawford & Northey, 2013). Along with this,
Qantas enforces core values and reshapes the culture effectively. Core values are considered the
essence of the firm’s identity. There are various ways to enforce a company’s philosophy and
core values. Some of the ways have been detailed below.
Put values front and center: It may be easy to lose sight of corporation values when focuses on
the task and duties at hand. Qantas guides all attributes or aspects of the business to interact and
communicate with passengers largely. But they could not be applied if they are not remembered
while rendering the services to them. Along with this, the people need to keep Qantas’s morale
and code of conduct at the forefront of every person’s mind by making it attractive and unique at
the workplace. It will help to enforce or initiate organizational values and philosophy (Grant,
Butler, Orr & Murray, 2014).
Hired based on values and philosophy: Developing a workforce that works and lives by the
firm moral code and values starts with appointing based upon value and philosophy. A list of
questions created to assess a person’s attribute and potential fit.
Reward and promote values: Encourage organizational values and capabilities by rewarding
and recognizing behaviors and actions that demonstrate them. This will not only help the
employee feel good but it also pushes the rest of the firm to follow it (Zhang, 2015).
Work by values: The excellent way to bring the company’s value to life is to model them. It
will help to implement excellent core values and philosophy which are stated by the company. In
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this way, the company can stable the organizational environment which has been affected due to
a poor and improper maintenance procedure.
Leadership methods will use to improve morale
It is stated that leadership methods help in boosting and improving morale and
confidence level of the customers. Qantas uses unique and dynamic leadership styles to motivate
the workforce and enhance profitability globally. In the given case, employees are feeling low
and they are fearful that layoffs might incur as a result of financial losses. Some of the leadership
methods that can be used to improve and boost employee morale have been detailed below.
Democratic leadership: One of the vital styles that could be used is democratic leadership that
will provide support to handle and manage the improper maintenance system in Qantas. This
leadership values collaborate and affirmation of subordinates widely. Democratic leadership is
also well known as participative leadership. The democratic leaders encourage collaboration and
the free flow of thoughts and ideas. The employees participate in decision-making process to
increase and enhance the profitability and outcomes internationally (Latchem, & Hanna, 2013).
The main goal of a participative leader is to foster worker investment in the firm by investing
employees in their role in the organization. This leadership style creates job satisfaction and
promoting innovation and generates solutions to company’s issues and concerns. This leadership
works well and effectively for leaders or players who value adaptation and flexibility. This is
often useful and dynamic when a leader is working with highly qualified and experienced
workers. This leadership style helps in maximizing morale and job satisfaction among the
employees in a large extent (Mooney, 2018).
Charismatic leadership: This is another method that can be used by Qantas to boost morale
among the workers. The charismatic leadership is a general method of encouraging and
improving the specific behavior and action of the subordinates by way of eloquent and unique
communication, collaboration and force of personality (Whitaker, Whitaker & Lumpa, 2013).
The charismatic leaders encourage employees to get things done and enhance the various ways
specific things are done. This leadership method helps in treating workers with respect and joy,
so they never feel low or down in difficulties. Employee recognition is one of the significant
advantages of this leadership style. Apart from this, regular and open communication is offered
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
to resolve and handle the issues and challenges that are being faced by top management
(Antonakis & Day, 2017).
How will ensure the compliance of all applicable regulations
Setting effective and unique procedures, rules and policies do not begin and end with rules
and legislation. It takes the right and appropriate amount of collaboration, suitable tool to analyze
understanding and the right types of distributive mediums. The company has a set of 10 group
policies which reflect the non-negotiable business rules and principles and explains the minimum
expected standards and policies around a wide range of governance areas where compliance is
essential for legal reasons and to make a unique brand image in the minds of the customers
(Schmitt & Gollnick, 2016). The ten policies that are being exercised by Qantas have been drawn
below.
 Ethics and code of conduct
 Business resilience policy
 Environmental policy
 Contract engagement, execution and review policy
 Cybersecurity policy
 Group finance policy
 Legal matter policy
 Risk management policy
 security policy
 Health and safety policy
All these policies help in ensuring that the company is followed or abide by all the
compliance, rules and regulations (Ward, McDonald, Morrison, Gaynor & Nugent, 2010). Along
with this, human resource policies also exist in the business entity which also explains the
minimum desired standards and rules for people in the context of their job or employment. It
would be further checked and analyzed that the company is aware of health and safety standards
or not (Barry, Hogan & Torres, 2017). An audit would be done to check the behavior of the
employees towards the customers while serving services to them during the journey. Any breach
of prevailing business ethics, code of conduct, applicable laws and other requirements that have
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
been set by the company may result in disciplinary action. Such disciplinary action might include
a formal warning, depending on the severity of the breach, counseling, and termination of job or
employment. Apart from this, each sector of the leaders must be analyzed and identified to
ensure the compliance and standards.
Various departments entail ample of schedules, penalties and daily experiences. To
ensure standards and compliance with the procedures, rules and regulations, make sure that the
company delivers them through vessels they are happy and comfortable with. Aside from this,
policies and procedures must be easily accessible by the workers at the workplace. Deadlines can
be set for each and every policy to measure the compliance and standards. Moreover, top
management needs to determine and analyze the understanding the workers have of approaches,
procedures and policies (Convergepoint, 2018).
How will ensure maintenance and inspection processes are followed
It has been analyzed that the maintenance and inspection process are needed to prevent
incidents, illnesses, and injuries at the workplace. Through a brief and critical examination and
evaluation of the workplace, inspections help to measure and recognize the hazard for dynamic
and effective action. Health and safety committees may further help plan, report, analyze,
conduct and monitor inspections at the workplace. Regular inspection and maintenance are a
significant part of the overall occupational health and safety program and management system
which is presented in Qantas. Each and every inspection should examine who, when, what,
when and how. The specific attention would be given to develop and build into unsafe or
unhealthy situations just because of the wear, impact, stress, heat, chemical reaction, corrosion
and misuse (Qantas, 2018).
Along with this, various areas such as parking lots, storage areas, rest areas, and locker
areas would be examined by the auditors within the organization. It is stated that Qantas
engineering and maintenance department is strong and effective to conduct business activities
and operations in a hassle-free manner (Narayan, 2012). With experience attained in maintaining
own fleet of over 200 aircraft, Qantas could respond to customer needs, wants and requirements
with reliability and flexibility and an understanding of operators constraints and issues. The
company is at the growing and leading edge of advanced technological development, enhance
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
products, systems, and procedures. Qantas needs to focus on the improvement and enhancement
to ensure dynamic maintenance and inspection at the workplace. In today’s era, the firm is
providing 24*7 hours services to its customers to be a leader in the airline industry (Qantas,
2018). Transit check inspections can be conducted as per individual maintenance requirements.
The engineers are further qualified and skilled in a broad range of aircraft including A330, B747,
A380 and B737 (Qantas, 2018). All Qantas line maintenance stations might communicate and
cooperate with inbound aircraft for advice on incoming defects and variations in the competitive
market.
How will communicate and promote the significance of safety
Qantas is committed to rendering a safe and injury free workplace through excellent
safety practices, strategies, and integrating operational safety in the business. Safety and security
is everything for everyone at Qantas (Quinlan, Hampson & Gregson, 2013). The company uses
the effective and unique approach that would help in preventing injury in the workplace. The
firm is working hard to ensure the safety standards of their employees and clients at all times.
Apart from this, a variety of programs and sessions must be held by the company support the
health and wellbeing of workers and customers as well. Furthermore, top management and
managers need to provide assurance that safety is being maintained and initiated. Apart from
this, training and development coaching sessions must be held by the company to improve and
enhance the safety standards and policies in the workplace. In addition, employees further
responsible for ensuring the safety and success of Qantas (Qingfeng, Wenbin, Xin, Jianfeng &
Qingbin, 2011).
They must continue to be flexible, dedicated, effective, efficient and knowledgeable
while exercising good judgment and assessment. Meanwhile, the company continues to a huge
amount in training equipment and systems that have long-term and effective implications at the
workplace. Improving and enhancing human performance would help the company reduce and
eliminate the commercial aviation accident rate within the organization. In this way, safety
standards and principles can be promoted by the top management and managers at Qantas.
Moreover, navigation, communication, and surveillance air traffic management interface should
be used by the company to reduce and eliminate safety issues and challenges. The significance of
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
health and safety shall be explained by the top management at the workplace. In this way, top
management can promote and communicate the significance of health and safety in the
workplace among the workers. Aside from this, workplace risk assessment can be conducted by
the company to maintain a favorable culture and promote health and safety. Encouraging and
promoting the employees to report safety and health concern are one of the significant ways to
promote safety within the organization (Qingfeng, Wenbin, Xin, Jianfeng & Qingbin, 2011).
How will monitor and supervise maintenance activities
Qantas engineering support and assistance is available at all Australian international and
domestic terminals and some other overseas parts. An effective and qualified team would be
appointed to monitor and supervise maintenance activities and operations. The company further
should provide engineering services to the employees effectively. Qantas engineering line
maintenance would provide world-class guidance and assistance to reduce and ignore the service
disruptions to operators and professional experiencing technical difficulties. All Qantas line
maintenance stations can communicate and collaborate with inbound aircraft for supervising and
monitoring the maintenance activities and operations. Along with this, the company’s line
maintenance can perform complementary measure and analyze the maintenance compliance and
rules (Manuele, 2013).
Engineering training shall be conducted to analyze and identify the needs and
requirements of maintenance at the workplace. Material logistics and systems must be used to
control over the maintenance activities. Regular maintenance and supervising activities are
needed to promote maintenance activities. Apart from this, strong and open communication shall
be maintained with the engineering team in the workplace thus, it will help to promote
maintenance activities and actions within the organization. Beside this, highly skilled and
experienced technicians shall be hired by the company to provide superior quality of services at
minimum cost. Although, the company has a modern and dynamic evacuation system
maintenance facility in Melbourne but the company needs to improve this system and various
changes shall be done in this system to handle and manage the maintenance system effectively.
In addition, the firm needs to focus on the Qantas sign craft team to render ample of solutions for
the maintenance and manufacture. With significant and unique training in sign graphic and
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
writing, the company could able to be a leader in the decal, aircraft graphic, and livery
applications within the organization. In this way, the company could able to supervise and
evaluate the maintenance activities in the competitive market (Manuele, 2013).
How will address employees who fail to comply with stated regulations
In today’s globalization world, Qantas has a wide array of issues and challenges in the
international market that may hamper its image and financial position in the global market.
Financial success and growth are some other consequences that can affect the profitability and
revenue of the firm. It has been analyzed that effective policies, code of conducts and standards
would be set Qantas to boost profitability and maintain a good corporate culture at the workplace
(Vinodkumar & Bhasi, 2010).
Apart from this, international standards, policies and recommended practices shall be
adopted to prevent issues influencing the safety and effectiveness of air navigation within the
organization. If any employee is failed to follow these rules and regulations then strict action
would be taken by the company at the workplace. Firstly, verbal warning can be given in case of
any violation and breach of the code of conducts. This will help to reduce and prevent violation
and misbehavior at the workplace. Apart from this, a formal notification in writing to the
workers could be given if she/he has violated regulations, code of conducts and rules. Moreover,
notice of suspension can be provided to the workers in writing if any misconduct is going on at
the workplace. In this way, the employers and top management can address employees who fail
to comply with stated rules, policies and regulations (Vinodkumar & Bhasi, 2010).
How will overcome ethical and cultural biases in a diverse workplace environment
After the various studies, it is evident that ethical and cultural biases in a diverse
workplace could affect the performance and effectiveness of the workers adversely. Thus, strict
actions can be taken and innovative policies shall be made by Qantas to promote diversity in the
workplace. Encouraging and promoting human resources personnel to reduce and eliminate the
cultural and ethical biases at the workplace (Ardichvili, Jondle, Kowske, Cornachione &
Thakadipuram, 2012). Along with this, top management and managers need to identify and
analyze the biases at the front door while rendering services to the passengers within the
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
organization. The performance evaluation shall be done to prevent various types of cultural
biases in the workplace (Sue & Sue, 2012).
By rendering management team with innovative and effective diversity awareness
training, employers at Qantas can equip them to provide support for creating an innovative
workplace. Open communication shall be exercised to resolve and handle the communicating
problems and concerns at the workplace (Luthans, Luthans & Luthans, 2015). Generating and
setting corporate guidelines that define the nature recruitment, culture, ethics, benefits and
compensation to the employees is one of the significant ways to eliminate the cultural and ethical
biases. Code of conducts, business ethics and principles must be set to overcome on these issues
and challenges in a large extent. Training and development further help in enhancing and
increasing the scope of minimizing cultural and ethical issues and concerns (Trevino & Nelson,
2016).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is concluded that an exclusive and significant audit help in
dealing and handling the worst situation in the airline industry. The above analysis shows that
Qantas uses innovative strategies, guidelines, and policies to overcome the maintenance and
health issues within the organization. Along with this, the company has been able to create a
dynamic image in the minds of the customers by exercising innovative health and safety
standards and regulations. The attractive and talented engineering team is appointed by the
company to take care of its engineering and maintenance activities.
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Leadership in global aviation maintenance
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