Transformation process risk management to sustainable corporate performance and quality management: developing flowcharts for approved training organization
Authors: Kucuk Yilmaz Ayse 
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Each decision-making involves risk; therefore, risk is a strategic element in management and organization. In terms of risk management, the transformation process in organizations should be aimed at optimizing and improving the most important performance criteria such as cost, quality, flexibility and speed, rather than just as required by legislation. Transformation process has sustainability risks for organizations. ATO transformation process should be well designed. Process also should include clear steps to implement them. Sound and well-designed process will be useful for organizational performance and quality management. The management of the risks of conversion processes is vital for the continuation of operations without interruption. In aviation universities’ approved training organizations (ATOs), each system must be handled and processed separately. Transformation plans should be prepared considering the risks of each system. The purpose of this study is to develop process flowcharts of all systems in sustainable ATO transformation process from risk management perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Flowchart method is useful to identify process risks in organizational system transformation. Flowcharts simplify communication and provide effective analysis of the process. Flowchart enables designing plan which is suitable for aimed results. Flowcharts method provides efficient coding and system analysis and program development phase also serves as a guide while debugging errors. In this study, flowcharts including all stages have been developed for transition to an ATO authorization. With these flowcharts, all elements of the process and the risks, threats and opportunities that may be faced can be proactively identified together. Thus, improvements will be possible to achieve the corporate objectives of the transformation and reorganization process and increase the corporate performance with optimum resource usage.

Findings

Flowcharts may contribute to the reorganization and transformation of processes in all aviation academies. In this sense, it provides infrastructure for future studies. New studies can be carried out for the reorganization of all departments in aviation. It is believed that this research will contribute to the aviation management literature. Flowchart is also called as process flowchart or process flow diagram. Flowchart is effective methodology to manage transformation process risk. Owing to clarify each step in transformation process, risks may be managed with timely decision-making by managers. In this research, five fundamental flowcharts have been developed in ATO system. These include all processes in transformation as preparation of manuals, new authority application, competent authority inspections, corrective and preventive actions, revalidation and fees in transformation process and its parts. Presented flowcharts may be useful to identify and manage process risk in initial phase as consent with proactive management style.

Research limitations/implications

This research presents designed flowcharts for ATO transformation risk management process. This research may extend at other departments in aviation universities such as air traffic control, maintenance and management.

Practical implications

As a methodology, flowcharts can be considered as schematic algorithms. The flowchart is a detailed representation of the process to carry out a specific task. In this research, flowcharts have been developed for transformation process stages at ATO authorization. These flowcharts are useful for proactive identification of process elements and their risks – threats and opportunities. Thus, improvements will be possible to achieve the corporate objectives of the transformation and reorganization process and increase the corporate performance with optimum resource usage. Flowcharts may contribute to the reorganization and transformation of processes in all aviation academies. In this sense, it provides infrastructure for future studies. New studies can be carried out for the reorganization of all departments in aviation. It is believed that this research will contribute to the management and strategy literature with engineering.

Originality/value

ATO transformation process risk management has not been studied much in literature. The operational manuals of ATO's management and strategy planning prepare according to both legal regulations and handbooks of aviation authorities which obliged for ATO. It is anticipated that this original study may be useful for determining the risks of transformation processes of flight training departments of civil aviation universities and for good process design. Flowcharts may contribute to the reorganization and transformation of processes in all aviation academies. In this sense, this study provides infrastructure for future studies. New studies can be carried out for the reorganization of all departments in aviation. It is believed that this research will contribute to the aviation management literature. Flowchart is also called as process flowchart or process flow diagram. Flowchart is effective methodology to manage transformation process risk. Owing to clarify each step in transformation process, risks may be managed with timely decision-making by managers. The aviation universities operate with authorization. This research may contribute to their process management and strategy to complete their transformation and transition via risk management. Developed flowcharts present all necessary steps to become authorized as an ATO. This research may serve as a kind of framework guide for other aviation organizations to be used in their transformation/transition process.