What is happening to Qantas is called "Hollowing out", its rather like what happens to Eucalypts - smooth and strong looking on the outside until the branch just drops off and you can see that the termites have eaten it out from the inside.
The cause is simple:
- being a senior manager in an airline is a dream job for a narcissist because of the ability to use the travel and upgrade perks to win friends and influence.
- The short term bonus structure constrains them to think tactically, not strategically. All they are thinking of as narcissists is themselves and their immediate gratification, the next bonus and their exit/retirement plan.
- As narcissists, they believe that anyone below them in the organisational structure really is " below them" and thus their welfare and contribution can be safely ignored. This leads to the current toxic state of workplace relations.
- As narcissists, they really believe that they make everything happen as Margaret Jackson famously said, and that their contribution to the airline justifies their remuneration. This is why Joyce gets the big bucks.
- The retirement / exodus of pilots will be highly satisfying to the narcissists on at least Four grounds:
* It reinforces their feelings of omnipotence that people would actually react this way on account of something the narcissist has done - "We have had to make tough decisions, like the savvy business leaders we are, blah blah,"
* It reinforces the group think that the "legacy airline" had to go anyway.
* It removes possible sources of experience and wisdom that might possibly confront and challenge the narcissists - they hate that. The like to feel intellectually superior to their underlings - thats why they are at war with the engineers. The new hires will be inexperienced and therefore easier to dominate. They want their employees to be compliant arse lickers.
* The financial consequences of not having to pay for experience are good, and the new hires will be cheaper.
As I said, I know how this one ends; a tired and marginally experienced Qantas pilot, already dealing with a few maintenance related system failures, stuffs up a landing and comes off the end of the runway. The sweet little Thai cabin crew run for their lives from the fire since saving their passengers is above their pay grade. Remember what happens with Eucalypts, the branch drops off with no warning, often in the gentlest of breezes.
Last edited by Sunfish; 6th Nov 2011 at 19:02.