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Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-97/12
Title and Subtitle: Baseline Assessment of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists/Federal Aviation Administration Partnership
Report Date: May 1997
Authors: Thompson, R.C., Hilton, T.F., and Behn, L.D.
Abstract: The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Flight Service Station (FSS) management and the leadership of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS) requested a baseline assessment of organizational climate prior to full implementation of NAATS/FAA Partnership (NFP) teams. The stated purpose of the NFP teams is to increase employee empowerment and improve decision-making and coordination within the organization. Fifty-eight percent of FSS personnel returned surveys assessing eight dimensions of organizational climate. These dimensions include purpose, structure, leadership, helpful mechanisms, relationships, attitude toward change, partnership, and environment/quality.
The results indicate that the respondents are satisfied with relationships in the workplace, understand the purpose of FSS, and report there are resources available to help them at work. In addition, NFP non-participants and lower tenure FSS employees indicate that the facility may be resistant to change; the same employees reflect less belief in adequate leadership to achieve the stated goals of NFP, rate as less adequate communication of organizational goals and priorities, and report less satisfaction with the organization's structure. Finally, most respondents "agree" that participation is an effective way to resolve problems.
Key Words: Organizational Climate, Partnership, Organizational Change
No. of Pages: 34