What are some ways to promote innovation in airline operations research teams?

Airline operations research (OR) is the application of scientific methods and analytical tools to optimize the planning, scheduling, and management of airline activities. OR teams play a vital role in enhancing the efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction of airlines. However, OR teams also face many challenges, such as changing market conditions, complex regulations, and dynamic customer preferences. How can OR teams foster a culture of innovation and creativity to overcome these challenges and generate novel solutions? Here are some ways to promote innovation in airline operations research teams.

1 Encourage collaboration

Collaboration is essential for innovation, as it allows OR teams to share ideas, learn from each other, and leverage diverse perspectives and expertise. OR teams can foster collaboration by creating cross-functional and cross-departmental teams, facilitating regular communication and feedback, and using online platforms and tools to collaborate remotely. Collaboration can also help OR teams to align their goals and strategies with other stakeholders, such as pilots, crew, maintenance, and marketing.

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Mohammad Z.

Network Cargo | Management Studies from Oxford Brookes University, England and Cargo Marketing from IATA, Geneva | TheCargoBlog.com
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One thing I've found helpful is to include a "wildcard" member on the team—a person from a completely different department or even outside the organization. It shakes up the dynamic in a good way. For example, adding a member from customer service to an OR team dealing with flight scheduling brought invaluable insights into customer pain points during delays. This led to more well-rounded solutions. Collaboration shouldn't be limited by departmental boundaries; sometimes the most innovative ideas come from the least expected places.

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2 Provide training and resources

Training and resources can help OR teams to develop new skills, knowledge, and capabilities that can enhance their innovation potential. OR teams can benefit from training and resources that cover topics such as data analysis, optimization techniques, simulation models, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. These topics can help OR teams to explore new ways of solving complex problems, generating insights, and improving decision making. OR teams can also access external resources, such as journals, conferences, webinars, and networks, to learn from best practices and trends in the OR field.

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Mohammad Z.

Network Cargo | Management Studies from Oxford Brookes University, England and Cargo Marketing from IATA, Geneva | TheCargoBlog.com
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An example involves an operations research team setting aside "innovation hours" weekly. During this time, team members could dive into resources like webinars, research papers, or online data analytics and machine learning courses. The idea was to learn something new and discuss how to apply it to current projects. In one case, they discovered a novel optimization technique from a webinar and tested it. Not only did it improve efficiency, but it also opened doors to new approaches for future projects.

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3 Reward experimentation and risk-taking

Experimentation and risk-taking are crucial for innovation, as they enable OR teams to test new ideas, learn from failures, and discover new opportunities. OR teams can promote experimentation and risk-taking by creating a safe and supportive environment, where team members can propose and try out different approaches, challenge assumptions, and learn from mistakes. OR teams can also reward experimentation and risk-taking by recognizing and celebrating successes, providing constructive feedback, and allocating time and budget for innovation projects.

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Mohammad Z.

Network Cargo | Management Studies from Oxford Brookes University, England and Cargo Marketing from IATA, Geneva | TheCargoBlog.com
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One thing I've found helpful is the concept of a "failure budget," which is a dedicated portion of the project's resources allocated for trying out risky ideas. This enables team members to engage in experimentation without the fear of jeopardizing the project's success. Such a budget serves as a safety net and encourages more adventurous approaches. When an experimental method succeeds, it becomes a significant innovation; if it fails, it becomes a lesson learned. Either way, it drives growth and problem-solving and adds a layer of psychological safety for the team.

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4 Solicit and implement feedback

Feedback is valuable for innovation, as it helps OR teams to evaluate their performance, identify gaps and areas for improvement, and incorporate customer and stakeholder needs and preferences. OR teams can solicit and implement feedback by conducting surveys, interviews, focus groups, and usability tests with internal and external customers, such as passengers, agents, and regulators. OR teams can also implement feedback by incorporating it into their design and development processes, making adjustments and refinements, and measuring the impact of their innovations.

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Mohammad Z.

Network Cargo | Management Studies from Oxford Brookes University, England and Cargo Marketing from IATA, Geneva | TheCargoBlog.com
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An example I've seen that drove home the value of feedback involved a team that developed a flight scheduling algorithm. Initially, the team was super confident about its efficiency. However, when they sought input from the pilots and cabin crew, they realized they'd overlooked factors like layover times and human fatigue. This led to refining the algorithm, making it efficient but also humane and practical. Listening to the boots-on-the-ground folks made a world of difference. It turned an excellent innovation into a great one, gaining buy-in from those affected.

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5 Monitor and benchmark innovation

Monitoring and benchmarking innovation can help OR teams to track their progress, assess their outcomes, and compare their performance with competitors and industry standards. OR teams can monitor and benchmark innovation by defining and measuring key indicators, such as innovation inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. These indicators can include metrics such as the number of new ideas generated, the number of new products or services launched, the revenue or cost savings generated, and the customer satisfaction or loyalty achieved. OR teams can also use benchmarking tools and reports, such as the Airline Innovation Index or the Airline Operations Benchmarking Report, to evaluate their innovation performance and identify best practices and areas for improvement.

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Mohammad Z.

Network Cargo | Management Studies from Oxford Brookes University, England and Cargo Marketing from IATA, Geneva | TheCargoBlog.com
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One thing I've found helpful in promoting innovation is the power of storytelling alongside data. Yes, metrics like those in the Airline Innovation Index can show you where you stand. But the story behind those numbers? That's gold. One thing to know: you've generated 20 new ideas this quarter. It's another to share how one of those ideas came from an intern's off-hand comment, which then snowballed into a project that saved thousands of dollars. This narrative gives context to your metrics, humanizes your progress, and makes your successes (and failures) relatable and instructional for the whole team.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Mohammad Z.

Network Cargo | Management Studies from Oxford Brookes University, England and Cargo Marketing from IATA, Geneva | TheCargoBlog.com
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Another thing worth mentioning is the "open-door policy," but I mean it metaphorically. You see, innovation is more than just a 9-to-5 thing. It could strike when grabbing coffee, being stuck in a meeting, or even chatting with a colleague from a different department. The open-door policy encourages casual conversations and spontaneous sessions, where unscripted dialogue can spark new ideas. This can be especially valuable for OR teams, which often rely on structured data and methodologies. Let's remember: Innovation thrives in the in-between spaces, not just in formal settings or scheduled brainstorming sessions.

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What are some ways to promote innovation in airline operations research teams?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Encourage collaboration

2 Provide training and resources

3 Reward experimentation and risk-taking

4 Solicit and implement feedback

5 Monitor and benchmark innovation

6 Here’s what else to consider

Airline Management

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What are some ways to promote innovation in airline operations research teams?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Encourage collaboration

2 Provide training and resources

3 Reward experimentation and risk-taking

4 Solicit and implement feedback

5 Monitor and benchmark innovation

6 Here’s what else to consider

Airline Management

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