Introduction
The outbreak of COVID-19 caused havoc in most sectors of the world economy. The transport industry was significantly impacted by various measures that countries adopted to mitigate the pandemic’s effects. The virus significantly affected the aviation sector, as most firms were forced to ground their flights for months. Emirates Airlines was no exception, and during the pandemic, it incurred losses due to limited flights.
Based on the case study provided, the Emirates Chief Operations Officer stated that the pandemic presented a significant challenge to the corporation. The company must rethink and formulate effective strategies to remain active in the industry. It implies that after the COVID-19 pressure declined, Emirates Airlines must develop new techniques since the previous models are obsolete and cannot enable the firm to compete effectively in the global aviation industry. To survive after the pandemic, the firm’s management must consider practical human resource (HR) management practices and formulate effective people management approaches to address the need for change within the organization.
The pandemic caused the aviation industry to change significantly, and to remain competitive in the sector, business organizations must redefine their operation techniques to suit the current needs of stakeholders. However, to influence operations within the firm, employers encounter several leadership and people management (LPM) issues that make it difficult for them to achieve their business goals.
The primary challenge is training and developing employees; in this case, managers must identify the specific training needs of each staff member to ensure that only the necessary skills are acquired. Second is motivation; generally, employees have different desires, so it is not easy to depict how to inspire workers to participate effectively in their roles.
Third, employers are often uncertain about whether adopting a leadership approach may impact the firm’s performance. Therefore, headship is a core concern in an organization’s LPM. Lastly, another common LPM challenge for companies is fostering a collaborative work environment. The mentioned aspects act as barriers to transformation, and when not addressed, lead to poor performance.
Literature Review
Generally, to redefine operational methods within the company, aspects of leadership and HR practices play a significant role. Usually, a change begins by tuning the employees and making them understand the new environment in which they are working. Several people management approaches can be applied to enable business organizations to adapt to a new system. Some techniques include offering employee training, motivating workers, providing effective leadership, and promoting a collaborative working environment. The HR and managerial practices mentioned have the potential to influence staff members’ ability to adapt to new changes in their workplace.
Training and Developing Employees
When COVID-19 struck, several adjustments were necessary to enable employees to continue their operations. For instance, customers booking flights were encouraged to access the flight tickets on the company’s website. The practice was initially unfamiliar among employees and clients, but it has since become a norm. To adapt to and effectively work in such a system, it is essential for business organizations to regularly provide training services to their employees, particularly on digital platforms. The practice will enable the staff members to be proactive and engage in their work effectively and efficiently.
The organization’s growth is influenced by its ability to retain the available employees. According to the research study by Nguyen (2020), there is a positive correlation between maintaining workers and offering training and development services. Based on the researcher’s argument, when workers are adequately trained by their respective employers, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. These aspects make the staff more productive, which is essential for competitive sectors.
Similarly, Kwon (2019) posits that training has a long-term impact on a corporation’s growth. The author states that the financial performance of a business is directly related to the level of training given to the available staff members in the firm. However, according to the researcher, their output is less visible at the initial stages of training. In other words, the company cannot identify the profit immediately after providing the service to its employees.
Motivating Employees
Motivation has remained a significant tool most employers use to impact change in their workers. However, for most employers, offering relevant incentives is a challenge due to the varied needs and perceptions of workers. According to the research findings by Na-Nan and Sanamthong (2019), a positive relationship exists between self-efficacy and worker inspiration. When staff members feel motivated by their leaders, they are more likely to be productive.
Furthermore, the research study suggests that for a firm to enhance its sustainability in the industry, it must prioritize employee motivation (Lorincová et al., 2019). According to Lorincová et al. (2019), workers are an integral part of a business organization that facilitates sustainability. Managers and junior staff contribute to the values and new ideas vital for business performance.
When individuals are well-motivated and their affairs are considered, they will deliver efficient and effective services to their employer. Therefore, management must define the appropriate means and criteria for inspiring workers to influence their commitment to business practices. Moreover, Van der Kolk et al. (2019) examined the impact of management on employee motivation. The authors assessed various aspects of motivation that employers can adopt to impact workers’ performance in the organization. Based on their findings, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are directly linked to an employee’s productivity.
Effective Leadership
Generally, effective leadership encompasses the ability to impact employees and influence their job performance. When a management approach is ineffective, employees may not be able to realize their full potential, which in turn hinders the organization’s productivity. According to Katsaros (2020), the headship approach influences both the financial performance and the effectiveness of workers within the company. In addition, every leadership style employed by managers has the potential to influence the willingness of staff members to change. The readiness to change is directly linked to the overall financial performance of the business organization (Katsaros, 2020).
In other words, when workers are rigid and cannot adapt to emerging business trends, it will be challenging for the entity to capitalize on market opportunities. This aspect will lead to poor performance in the industry. Leadership techniques are crucial in influencing key aspects of business organizations, including communication and workforce restructuring (Tang, 2019). When implementing change management, the administration must consider effective leadership methods that will have a positive impact on both the people and the entity.
Following the current dynamics in management, the concept of e-leadership is becoming an integral part of administration, whereby managers rely on social influence to drive the change process. According to the research by Roman et al. (2019), organizational leaders should investigate and determine the value e-leadership can bring to their performance. Businesses should consider the aspect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)- mediated communication to initiate the required changes in operations.
Collaborative Work Environment
Advancements in technology have resulted in systems that can supplement human effort. According to the research study by Pauliková et al. (2021), there is an increasing need to enhance cooperation between workers and robots in a workplace environment. Business organizations have been searching for circumstances where the cobot can replace human labor. Since the aviation industry demands attention and total focus, applying robots to work alongside crew members and within hubs is a significant consideration.
Similarly, Di Vaio and Varriale (2020) examine how blockchain technology can impact management operations. The authors link the tech to improving business performance by facilitating practical data analysis. However, according to researchers, the application of such a system may have unintended side effects; therefore, managers need to work collaboratively with the technology to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Analysis and Discussion
For Emirates Airlines to remain effective and competitive in the aviation industry, its administration team must consider core leadership and other related management concerns. Generally, redefining new ways of operations requires an organization to work closely with its stakeholders, including employees and suppliers. Following the significant change in the global aviation industry, Emirates Airlines needs a complete transformation. To achieve proper transformation, the focus should be on issues such as training and developing employees, motivating workers, applying effective leadership, and creating a collaborative working environment.
Training and Developing Employees
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, employees were accustomed to their everyday operational routines. However, the pandemic significantly disrupted the system, forcing the aviation industry to adopt new techniques to enable businesses to survive the situation. The sudden change demanded quick adjustment on the part of employees. Although the pressure from the virus has declined significantly, most practices remain in place.
Since operation procedures have become a regular routine, the Emirate management body needs to consider subjecting its staff members to frequent training to equip them with emerging knowledge and skills. By investing in worker training, the organization will be able to retain its employees more effectively. The research findings by Nguyen (2020) posit that providing training services to staff members enhances their job satisfaction. This aspect will enable Emirates Airlines to initiate effective change management and redefine its operations without resistance from the workforce.
Similarly, developing the skills and competencies of the staff members increases their overall productivity. This aspect will ensure the company’s services are efficient and lead to proper growth (Kwon, 2019). Therefore, management needs to adapt and redefine training approaches to keep employees up-to-date in a rapidly changing industry. Having the right skills and knowledge will enable leaders to more effectively influence change and achieve success.
Motivating Employees
Employee motivation has been a significant tool that many employers use to influence the responsiveness of their workers. Various scholars have confirmed the relationship between job performance and inspiration in the workplace. According to the research findings by Lorincová et al. (2019), a company that embraces employee motivation can sustain its workforce. Therefore, Emirates Airlines management must adopt an approach that encourages its staff members to enhance their work morale and loyalty to the firm. There are various motivation models that leaders can use to impact their workforce.
In most cases, management can opt for either intrinsic or extrinsic approaches (Van der Kolk et al., 2019). For Emirates, applying the extrinsic concept will be more appropriate. For instance, offering bonuses, free travel gifts, or vacations to the highest-performing staff members can enhance the loyalty and commitment of employees within the organization. This aspect has the potential to align workers properly and make them less resistant to new ideas and any form of system change.
Furthermore, employee motivation influences contribution towards the organization’s projects. Na-Nan and Sanamthong (2019) note that when inspired, individuals gain self-efficacy, a vital aspect of employment. Having workers who believe in themselves will enable Emirates Airlines to modify its operations and succeed. Such employees will not be discouraged by the changes. Instead, they will commit effectively, believing they have the necessary ability to undertake new challenges. Supposing that Emirates Airlines applies the model, it will be easier for them to influence the stakeholders to follow management’s direction.
However, it is essential to implement the motivation approach with caution, having realistic measures in place to determine how and whom to reward. Sometimes, people may be bonus-oriented, making them work extra hard to secure the opportunity. Such cases might negatively impact the overall output and commitment of staff members. In other words, the business organization must avoid at all costs types of motivations that might prompt workers to experience burnout.
Effective Leadership
Generally, leadership is the central part of a business organization. The success or failure of a corporation relies on the type of management employed by the respective entity. According to the research findings by Katsaros (2020), the performance of workers is directly influenced by the nature of headship practiced in the workplace. Therefore, firms with effective leadership are better positioned to compete in the market than those with incompetent leaders. Katsaros (2020) further emphasizes that the willingness of staff members to adapt to any form of operation is dependent on the management aspect within the organization.
Based on the Emirates Airlines case, which requires the giant firm to redefine its operations, the company needs to choose a leadership approach that can influence and embrace change within the organization. Various management approaches have proven vital for leading employees. They include situational, democratic, and even transformational leadership styles. Among the mentioned tactics and others, it is necessary to utilize the appropriate ones depending on the situation at hand. For instance, Emirates Airlines is willing to adopt a different operating approach; therefore, transformational leadership techniques are required to influence change.
Busari et al. (2019) argue that this type of management is crucial because it encompasses three distinct aspects of an organization. First, the headship approach enhances the change process, making it easier for employees to adopt new practices within their operations. This facet is vital for Emirates because for the leaders to redefine the activities, they will be required to introduce new systems that workers must incorporate.
Second, for a business organization to excel and succeed in redefining its operational system, employees must believe in the ideas and processes proposed by management. According to Busari et al. (2019), research findings indicate that transformational leadership effectively fosters trust between managers and workers. When staff members have confidence and feel they are on the right track, their effort and dedication toward their roles increase, making it possible for the company to be productive. Therefore, the management team of Emirates Airlines should adopt transformational governance to facilitate the necessary change process in response to the pandemic’s effects.
Lastly, the transformational leadership style promotes employees’ participation in the company. When leaders employ a management approach, managers inspire staff members by providing them with the necessary support, skills, and relevant knowledge to undertake their new roles. Furthermore, through this tactic, frontrunners share the company’s vision and goals with workers, making them aware of what is expected of them and their roles in achieving these expectations.
In other words, the headship eliminates confusion that might hinder employees, thereby dragging the change process. Therefore, for Emirates Airlines to facilitate employee involvement in organizational change, applying the mentioned leadership method will enhance the effectiveness of leaders within the firm.
Collaborative Work Environment
Since the pandemic, the aviation industry has adopted various technologies to support employees in performing their duties effectively. Most technicians are unfamiliar with the application, and the majority of workers are not accustomed to it. Given that the approach has remained part of daily practices, the managers must facilitate collaboration between the machines, such as robots and humans, to make operations effective and efficient. Although the technologies are considered resourceful, creating an environment where staff members can utilize them to enhance their productivity is central to the growth of a business organization.
The management of Emirates Airlines should identify specific technologies to supplement workers’ efforts. Such advancement will enable the company to eliminate the aspect of performing repetitive work, which is more likely to result in burnout. Furthermore, having a blockchain system will be essential, as it can enable managers to conduct proper data analysis and allow leaders to make informed decisions (Vogl et al., 2020). The practice will ensure that the company utilizes its available resources based on the forecast, thereby reducing the risk of poor performance associated with inaccurate details.
Prior training must be undertaken to enable staff to become well-versed in the new system, ensuring that management can ensure that employees and technology complement each other. By engaging in such practices, Emirates Airlines’ leadership will find it easier to adapt and redefine its operations in favor of the post-pandemic era. Therefore, it is a vital aspect that should be considered to enhance the relationship and promote workers’ productivity.
Conclusion
Generally, the leadership and management of employees are vital in business operations. Managers need to develop effective practices that enable them and their employees to overcome industry-specific barriers. Based on the situation facing Emirates Airlines as described by the company’s chief operating officer, the following practices —effective leadership, motivating employees, offering training, and creating a collaborative work environment — are essential for promoting change. The pandemic caused serious confusion in the sector, and the firm undertook an abrupt transformation without allowing the employees to adapt and learn the new systems.
Therefore, for the organization to remain relevant and competitive after COVID-19, the HR and management board must redefine and influence the workers’ perceptions. By applying the transformational leadership approach, the managers will effectively govern and guide the employees toward new changes. The technique limits possible resistance from workers, hence making it easier to make further changes in operations.
Similarly, management should adopt various methods to motivate employees. When workers are inspired, they become more responsive; consequently, the firm’s productivity increases. Emirates leaders should consider evaluating the performance of staff members and deciding on bonuses to reward the effort made by the workers.
Additionally, fostering a collaborative work environment is crucial for the company. HR should invest in training employees to work effectively with emerging technologies introduced by the aviation industry following the pandemic. The facet will enhance effectiveness and efficiency in job performance, ultimately contributing to the entity’s growth.
Recommendations
Emirates Airlines’ management should adopt a transformational leadership approach to effectively redefine its operational activities. Based on the findings, for a business organization to successfully enact change, employees must be involved in the process. Having a transformational leader will make it easier for stakeholders to understand the firm’s goals and work together as a team to achieve them.
Furthermore, since the pandemic has affected employees psychologically, most of them need proper reassurance and inspiration from managers to boost their morale and enable them to undertake their responsibilities. By employing the leadership style, the company will be better positioned to influence the aspect of change it intends.
Concerning motivation, the company should utilize approaches such as taking employees on group vacations. This technique will enable workers to socialize and interact with each other more effectively, thereby fostering strong relationships. When staff members feel connected to their colleagues, they are more likely to cooperate effectively in the work environment. This aspect will stimulate inspiration, leading to a commitment to possible changes proposed by the business organization.
Lastly, the company should not fail to update its performance in all its activities. If management does not monitor the company’s operations, it will be challenging to identify sensitive areas that require short-term or long-term adjustments. This implies that poor leadership might cause the business organization to fail. Documenting issues will ensure that each problem is addressed effectively, allowing the firm to progress in the right direction.
References
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