Airline flight deck management techniques applied to business: Links personal performance to technical competence

Abstract

Purpose

Introduces Command Leadership and Resource Management (CLRM) and explains the application of this new and unusual method of transferring aviation related leadership skills to the commercial business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

CLRM is based on the theory of Kurt Lewin who stated that “People are a function of behavior and environment: change one and the other will change”. The observation and assessment of individuals’ reactions to environmental changes, the team's chemistry (action and reaction) and level of magnetism that keeps the team and the project on course through the application of airline flight deck management techniques.

Findings

Forces participants to observe and self assess their mental attributes and to physically test, stretch and employ latent leadership skills in a non artificial, non classroom based environment by facing issues and dynamics which occur daily in the workplace.

Practical implications

The application of team related activities such as employee interactions and communicational tasks invoke and improve leadership skills at all levels of management to drive corporate aspirations to successful conclusions.

Originality/value

To the author's best knowledge and belief, the transfer of a mandatory form of aviation management training to the business world using a self contained environment to demonstrate this learning technique has not been previously practiced.

Citation

Berry, D. (2005), "Airline flight deck management techniques applied to business: Links personal performance to technical competence", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 8-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777280510590013