Analyzing People Management in Aviation: British Airways Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive overview of people management within the aviation industry, with a specific focus on British Airways. It begins by outlining various managerial roles at airlines and airports, such as supervising staff, managing airport equipment, handling administrative practi...Read More

Managing People in
Aviation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Different managerial roles at airlines or airports that influence culture and performance at the
airline or airport...........................................................................................................................3
Examination of the management style of different airlines or airports, and how these styles
influence the culture and performance at the firm......................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Management of people involves set of activities to be performed in order to provide
direction of work to the employees. This support an organisation in achieving the desired goals
and objectives by aligning the efforts of employees toward the accomplishment of objectives.
The current report is based on the aviation industry by putting the light over the importance of
managing people for airlines company (Baldwin, 2017). This is so because the success of airlines
company is depends over the quality of services it offer to passenger and their satisfaction with
them. The current report is based on British Airways which is one of the largest airlines industry
that offer travelling services in several different countries. It is headquartered in Waterside,
Harmondsworth. This report includes a detailed description regarding number of managerial
roles that are performed at airport or airlines along with their influence over culture and
performance. In addition to this, it also includes description regarding the management style of
different airlines or airports and manner in which styles influence the culture and performance of
an organisation.
MAIN BODY
Different managerial roles at airlines or airports that influence culture and performance at the
airline or airport.
Airlines is one of the fastest growing sector throughout the world due to its travelling
services which are more comfortable and take less time. These airlines services get prominence
in world as it reduces the duration as well as distance between two places. The British Airways is
one among the top players of airlines industry and it has experienced a greater success moments
all because of its effective management that further contribute toward keeping the customers
more happier and satisfied with the services (Flouris and Lock, 2016). The number of
management roles performed by British Airways at airport help in forming up a culture which in
turn also influence the performance of employees working over airport. Therefore in order to
develop a culture of effective management and positive working environment it is crucial that
manager must be experienced and competent in their field so that it can manage the operations
effectively which in turn not only help in developing a better positive working environment but
also help in enhancing the level of performance. Several managerial roles in respect to airlines
and airport are mentioned below:

 Supervise staff members:- In order to offer high quality services it is crucial for the
manager to control its staff members as well as personnels working over the airport. The
managers of British Airways mainly oversees different departments, employees in order
to manage day to day activities and future planning (Haass, Sampigethaya and
Capezzuto, 2016). This support in enhancing the quality of performance when the
manager also keep its eye over employees and at the same time it also help in developing
a culture of executing operations efficiently as per the guidance of management.
 Airport equipment management:- The airport manager is also responsible for dealing
with the several issues that mainly arises at airport such as noise complaints, management
of several equipments that are used for security testing or other actives and emission test.
The managers of British airways also ensure that each and every equipments as well as
tools that used at the airport for operation must be well managed, so that their would not
remain any sort of issues in them which may further hamper the work or may harm
someone. These practices performed by British Airways support them in ensuring high
quality services from the machineries as well as employees that are working over there.
 Administrative practices:- This is also one of the most crucial work at the airport
which ensure the quality of services at are being offered to the passengers. In British
Airways there is a administration department which handle all these practices which
involve the management and development of air traffic procedures, mitigate safety
hazards, install air navigation equipment and managing the budget of airport. The
employees of these department have to work with larger number of people which in turn
support in developing a culture of collaboration which in turn further support in
improving the performance of employees.
 Conflict resolution:- This is also a crucial part of managerial practices where the staff
members are responsible for ensuring that each and every activities must be performed
smoothly without any kind of conflicts (Phillips and Kaps, 2018). The British Airways
mainly maintains its different section for the conflict handling and conflict resolution
where all the issues whether it is related with the passenger or the employees are being
discussed. This support in developing a positive working environment while maintaining
a better relationship between the employees and organisation.

 Managing operational activities:- There are larger number of activities which is to be
performed at the airlines as well as airports in order to offer best possible services to the
passenger. Under this the role of a managers is to ensure that the employees are being
assigned with the work that holds up the capability to perform that particular task. This
further support in ensuring that the operations are being performed as per the requirement
and appropriately so that the quality of performance can be improved.
These all are the managerial roles that are performed at the airport as well as airlines that
are mainly performed by the British Airways in order to ensure that the operations are mainly
performed in effectively manner (Polater, 2018). These practices when managed effectively
contribute toward ensuring the smooth flow of operations as each employees become able to
perform its operation in efficient manner. This further support in developing the role culture at
workplace while improving the employee's performance.
Examination of the management style of different airlines or airports, and how these styles
influence the culture and performance at the firm
Management style involve the necessary organisational activities that helps the firm to
maintain its culture and carry out routine performance efficiently. Almost all the organisation
that fall under aviation sector maintain certain kind of management style to better attain the
target of firm. Explanation of some of the management style that is suitable for the operations of
airlines as well as airports are demonstrated below:
Authoritative management style: Under respective leadership style certain authority
that include few manager as well as leader have the privilege to analyse the business
environment and accordingly formulate decision. Here rather than focusing to maintain the
relationship with employee strict rules and regulations are formulate which is necessary for the
personnel to abide by. This assist the organisation to carry out routine tasks and activities within
stipulated time period (Stolzer, 2017). The employees of British Airways can adopt this
leadership style in order to positive influence their culture as well as performance because it help
to bring transition in the working pattern and accommodate the needs of the external
stakeholders effectively.
Democratic management style: This management style is just opposite of Authoritative
as here all the major decision takes place with the mutual consent of manager as well as

employees. It focuses to enhance the participation of overall workforce where with the help of
brainstorming or group discussion session the innovative ideas and opinion are encouraged.
Utilising such style can help British Airways to sustain the viable relations between different
level of management. Along with that the staff feel secured and valued because their suggestions
are welcomed by the enterprises.
Laissez fair management style: This is the unique management style as within this form
the employees have authority to anticipate the business environment and articulate the necessary
decision. Being responsible for the actions due to which individual take significant effort in order
to enhance their performance and attain the set target (Wiegmann and Shappell, 2017). Adoption
of such leadership style can help British Airways to manage the internal operations and select the
best alternative to deal with the particular situation. Thus, it promote the cooperative and
independent working culture for better administration of activities.
Transformation management style: To remain competitive in the dynamic environment
Transformational leadership style help to continuously enrich the internal culture, skill as well as
performance of employees. This management style can help the British Airways to always
remain competitive in the aviation sector and sustain its marketplace. Along with that investment
in change management technique possibly improves the morale of employees in order to carry
out desirable action to maintain the sound position within particular entity. Thus, it influence the
organisational culture and enhance employees performance by developing competitive
environment and help to gain the benefit of sustainable development.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned information it has been summarised that the people
management is a crucial practices within the aviation industry as the employees of airlines are
the one who have a direct interaction with passenger. Therefore it is crucial to ensure that their
operations should be well maintained so that the expectation of passengers can be fulfilled by
performing the range of managerial role in effective manner. Additionally, effective leadership
style support in ensuring that a effective culture can be developed for better employees
performance.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baldwin, R., 2017. Developing the future aviation system. Routledge.
Flouris, T. G. and Lock, D., 2016. Managing Aviation Projects from Concept to Completion.
Routledge.
Haass, J., Sampigethaya, R. and Capezzuto, V., 2016. Aviation and cybersecurity: opportunities
for applied research. TR News. (304). p.39.
Phillips, E. D. and Kaps, R. W., 2018. Defining aviation management. The Collegiate Aviation
Review International. 23(1).
Polater, A., 2018. Managing airports in non-aviation related disasters: A systematic literature
review. International journal of disaster risk reduction. 31. pp.367-380.
Stolzer, A. J., 2017. Safety management systems in aviation. Routledge.
Wiegmann, D. A. and Shappell, S. A., 2017. A human error approach to aviation accident
analysis: The human factors analysis and classification system. Routledge.
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