Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Keri L. Heitner

Abstract

Aviation leaders in the U.S. federal government face challenges in adopting technical evolution and advancing modernization while adhering to the rigor of a deeply entrenched safety culture. The purpose of this qualitative modified Delphi study was to determine how a panel of 21 aerospace experts based in Washington, DC viewed strategies for adopting to new technologies while ensuring safety. The management concepts that framed the study were safety culture and digital transformation. The study addressed the research question of how a panel of aviation experts viewed the desirability, feasibility, and importance of forward-looking strategies for adopting digital transformation while adhering to the rigor of a deeply entrenched safety culture in aviation. Data analysis included content analysis of narrative responses to the digital transformation statements, statistical analysis of desirability and feasibility ratings to determine consensus, weighted average calculations to determine the importance ranking, and statistical analysis to determine confidence in the final results. The purposively selected panelists completed four rounds of data collection and reached consensus on the 10 most desirable, feasible, and important strategies in four categories derived from the Federal Aviation Administration Strategic Plan for 2019–2022. Aviation leaders may use the results to positively impact the safe adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and impact social change by fostering stronger economic conditions for aviation customers and improving quality of life for travelers.

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