Competency development of air traffic controllers in the Royal Thai Navy

Abstract

This research is a study on the development of the competence of the Royal Thai Navy air traffic controllers. The objectives are to study the level of core competence, problems, obstacles, and suggestions for solving problems and obstacles in the development of the competence of the Royal Thai Navy air traffic controllers. This research collected data from the Royal Thai Navy air traffic controllers using a combination of methods: quantitative research with a sample of 70 people and qualitative research by in-depth interviewing 5 key informants. The research results found that 1. The level of core competence of the Royal Thai Navy air traffic controllers was at the highest level overall. The aspect with the highest average value was found to be loyalty, followed by military attitude, national ideology, discipline, sailor spirit, determination to achieve results, and creativity, respectively. 2. The external environment, politics, economy, society, and technology are factors supporting the development of competence. The internal environment was found to be a problem and obstacle: 1) Strategy, lack of a clear action plan. 2) Structure, high formality, slow decision-making, lack of agility. 3) System, lack of flexibility, lack of decentralization, and emphasis on rules and regulations. 4) Leadership style, emphasis on following orders. Lack of promotion of creative initiatives 5) Personnel, shortage of personnel 6) Skills, lack of a plan to develop necessary and continuous skills 7) Shared values, relying too much on the seniority system 3. Guidelines for solving problems and obstacles The agency must have an action plan, clearly define steps, goals, and objectives, training to develop knowledge and skills, performance evaluation and monitoring, improvement of work processes, strengthening organizational culture to emphasize participation, and building morale and motivation for work.