Aviation engineering is a highly technical line of work, and most certainly a high level of technical skills, also known as hard skills, are required for technically maintaining aircraft. However, this research study investigates a group of aircraft engineers and their respective line managers, who themselves are also aircraft engineers, to outline the current perception of soft skills and its significance to these line managers in this particular aviation engineering organisation. Following this investigation, it is the objective of this study to elicit possible beneficiary recommendations for further recognition of the aviation engineering profession's esteem.
The aviation engineering industry has been evolving for over a century to keep up with technological improvements and the professional culture of the personnel working in this industry requires a continuous adaptation to changes in business requirements. Engineering in aviation has been proven to be a direct link in the aviation safety chain, however, in due to the fact that this line of work is often executed in restricted areas of airports, it is secreted from the general public, and is therefore very poorly promoted and is very rarely a research attraction for social scientists.
The access available to the author as an aircraft engineer within the researched organisation, grants the possibility to carry out primary research on the subject group of employees. Literature review findings concerning five soft skill attributes and their relation to both engineering in general, as well as aviation engineering, are investigated to discover their relation to front line management in this organisation, and to expose if these skills can be related to aviation safety.
Several findings emerged through this qualitative research. A deprivation of soft skills awareness in a formal manner is evident as training is omitted. A promotion deficiency together with an isolation of the operations of the aviation engineer's profession is leading to an underprivileged estimation, and a degradation in the aretefact cultural level. Positive outcomes are also exposed with regards to regular use of physical communication and the tendency of self-interest towards soft skills development in an experiential manner.
Conclusions imply that a further development of soft skills among the group in study shall have an indirect impact on the end product of this team, positively effecting safety.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction To The Study
1.2 The Objectives To This Research
1.3 The Organisation In Study
1.4 Problem Statement
CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Overview
2.2 Identification of Soft Skill Attributes
2.3 Emotional Intelligence
2.4 Communication
2.4.1 Written Communication
2.4.2 Communication Meetings
2.5 Leadership Skills
2.5.1 Transformational leadership dimensions
2.5.2 Transactional leadership dimensions
2.5.3 Leadership Development
2.5.4 The dark side of leadership
2.6 Personality
2.6.1 Personality Testing
2.7 Ethics, Engineering Professionalism & Commercial Aircraft Maintenance
2.8 Summary
CHAPTER 3 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Overview
3.2 Definition of Research
3.3 Types of Research
3.4 Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research Approaches
3.4.1 Quantitative Research
3.4.2 Qualitative Research
3.5 Research implications
3.6 Research Objectives and Research Methodology Justification
3.7 Categories of Qualitative Interview Design
3.8 Research Strategy
3.9 Data Access and Ethics
3.10 Research Limitations
CHAPTER 4 - RESEARCH FINDINGS & ANALYSIS
4.1 Overview
4.2 Data Analysis
4.2.1 Emotional Intelligence
4.2.1.1 Evaluation
4.2.2 Communication
4.2.2.1 Evaluation
4.2.3 Leadership
4.2.3.1 Evaluation
4.2.4 Personality
4.2.4.1 Evaluation
4.2.5 Ethics, Engineering Professionalism and Commercial Aircraft Maintenance
4.2.5.1 Evaluation
CHAPTER 5 - DISCUSSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Overview
5.2 Discussion
5.3 Recommendations
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This dissertation investigates the perception and significance of soft skills for line managers within a local aviation engineering organization. The central research question explores whether these non-technical attributes influence safety levels and the professional esteem of aircraft engineers, who often operate in restricted and hidden environments.
- The role and significance of soft skills in aviation engineering management.
- The impact of soft skills on aviation safety and organizational culture.
- The professional identity and public perception of aircraft engineers.
- The gap between academic training and practical professional requirements.
- Recommendations for leadership development and organizational support.
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2.4 Communication
Jean Thilmany (2009), in the article “nixing engineerese: Communicating across departments calls for soft skills”, gives an insight about the need for communication skills within departments and illustrates the need of stereotypical engineers to develop good working relationships. It is identified that typical engineers usually have less – than – stellar communication skills and are, for the most of them, linear thinkers; communicating with such personnel may prove to be challenging. It is pointed that for engineers who aspire to enrol in future management positions, learning the skill of aligning their approach to the status level and personality of different employees is a must.
“For an engineering manager, one of the biggest jobs is to establish good working relationships with employees across the company.”
Thilmany (2009), p.30.
Thilmany (2009) refers to the advice offered by Roberta Chinsky Matuson, president of HR Solutions, a human resources consultancy in Northampton, Massachusetts, whereby she notes that one soft skill that is easily trained and honed over time is in fact the ability to clearly communicate. She counsels that for engineers to communicate effectively with different professionals they need to constantly remember that most likely, the other persons do not have their equivalent technical background.
An interesting notion pointed out by Dr. Jim Anderson, a business communication expert and president of Blue Elephant Consulting and also quoted in Thilmany (2009), is the custom for engineers to point out deficiencies to other people or departments, and that this characteristic is rooted in the engineer’s nature and is, more often than not, unappreciated, if not appalled, by others.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the research context, focusing on the significance of soft skills within the aviation engineering sector and defining the research objectives and the problem statement regarding the line manager's role.
CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW: This section examines existing research on five key soft skill attributes: emotional intelligence, communication, leadership, personality, and ethics, establishing a foundation for the primary research.
CHAPTER 3 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the qualitative research approach, including the rationale for using semi-structured interviews to gather insights from aircraft engineers and line managers.
CHAPTER 4 - RESEARCH FINDINGS & ANALYSIS: This chapter presents the data gathered from interviews, correlating findings with the literature review to evaluate the role and perception of soft skills among the study group.
CHAPTER 5 - DISCUSSION & RECOMMENDATIONS: This final chapter synthesizes the study's findings, offering specific recommendations to improve soft skill training and organizational management within the aviation engineering department.
Key Keywords
Soft skills, aviation engineering, aircraft maintenance, line manager, emotional intelligence, leadership, communication, personality, professional ethics, safety culture, human factors, organizational management, career development, qualitative research, aviation safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation examines the significance of soft skills for line managers within a local aviation engineering organization, specifically exploring their impact on safety and professional esteem.
Which five soft skill attributes are examined?
The study focuses on Emotional Intelligence, Communication, Leadership, Personality, and Ethics/Professionalism.
What is the main objective of the research?
The primary objectives are to outline the current perception of soft skills among line managers and to elicit recommendations to improve the professional standing and esteem of the aviation engineering profession.
What research methodology was employed?
The author utilized a qualitative, phenomenological research approach, conducting semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with a sample of aircraft engineers and line managers.
What are the key themes addressed in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical framework of the selected soft skills and analyzes them through the specific lens of the aircraft maintenance work environment and its unique challenges.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Keywords include Soft skills, aviation engineering, aircraft maintenance, leadership, emotional intelligence, and safety culture.
How does the "SHELLO" model relate to this research?
The study references the SHELLO model to emphasize that organizational and managerial deficiencies are critical factors in aircraft safety, which are often overlooked compared to technical aspects.
Why is the "hidden" nature of the aviation engineering profession significant?
The author argues that because maintenance work often occurs in restricted, "hidden" areas, the profession is poorly promoted and suffers from a lack of public recognition and esteem compared to other technical professions.
- Quote paper
- Mark Galea (Author), 2014, How Significant are Soft Skills to Line Managers in an Aviation Engineering Organisation?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/308854
