Disruptive Technology Adoption and Technology Sustainability in Aviation Sector: Multi-Stakeholders Case Study Analysis

Nor Aida Abdul Rahman; Abdelsalam Hamid

doi:10.48161/qaj.v6n3a2368

Authors

Nor Aida Abdul Rahman Aviation Management Department, Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Subang, 47200, Malaysia; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3941-3606
Abdelsalam Adam Hamid Department of Management, College of Business Administration, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra, Postal Code 400, Oman. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9926-1950

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48161/qaj.v6n3a2368

Keywords:

Disruptive technology, Multi-stakeholders, Theory of planned behavior, Aviation, Sustainability.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is threefold: to discuss the theoretical underpinning of disruptive technology in the aviation context; to explore technology development in the aviation industry; and to classify the key challenges of technology in the aviation industry by exploring how human factors in the aviation sector react in line with technology development. This study employs an inductive research approach with multiple case study analysis. Cross-case analysis was performed to identify data patterns across aviation types of organizations. This qualitative multiple case study is exploratory in nature, interviewing managers in the aviation sector. The case comes from the airline, cargo, manufacturing, and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) perspectives. One of the interesting findings of this study is that technology in the aviation industry is controlled by aviation regulators globally and locally. The use of new technology in the aviation industry should be tested and approved by the local authorities to ensure airworthiness. Thus, there is a strong contribution to the current literature that offers new insights into the technological role of the aviation industry. This study is regarded as novel because the main data come from the key players in air transport, namely the airline, cargo players, manufacturing, MRO and policy maker. This study is novel as it draws primary insights from key stakeholders across the air transport ecosystem. The findings contribute a conceptual framework and practical implications for understanding technology adoption in the aviation industry. The study introduces the notion of technology stalemate to describe how sustainability-oriented technological initiatives are shaped by regulatory, safety, and security considerations, reflecting a context of cautious and risk-aware decision-making rather than outright resistance.

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