Competency Model Development for Air Cargo Supervisory Personnel in the Thai Aviation Industry in the Digital Era

Abstract

The objectives of this research are 1) to study important elements in developing the competencies of air cargo supervisory personnel in Thai Aviation Industry in the digital era 2) to develop a competency model of the aforementioned employees, and 3) to prepare a guideline for developing a competency model for the targeted personnel. A mixed methods design combining qualitative and quantitative research was used. The tools for qualitative research are an in-depth interview, a focus group discussion, and content analysis whereas those for quantitative research comprise a questionnaire, a pattern assessment, and a manual evaluation checklist. The statistics for data analysis include frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and factor analysis. The sample group for survey data collection consists of 412 air cargo supervisory personnel in the Thai aviation industry. As results, the components of the competency model consist of 2 dimensions, which cover 6 main components and 21 sub-components. Dimension 1: supervisor core competencies feature encompasses: 1) working knowledge 2) occupational skills and 3) desirable characteristics. Dimension 2: work quality features 1) operational planning 2) operation system and 3) control of operational activities. As for the guideline for developing essential supervisory competencies and skills required for the intended personnel, experts agree that the designed guideline is appropriate, consistent with the content, and thus it can be further applied for supervisory personnel skills training.