9.7: Case Analysis Effectiveness

9.7: Case Analysis Effectiveness

Joseph Younts 

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

ASCI 638: Shawn Wynn 

May 2017

Case Analysis Effectiveness

            This is the second graduate course that has required a case analysis to be developed on a specific research topic of this author’s choosing. For the case analysis for ASCI 638: Human Factors in Unmanned Aerial Systems, this author chose to write on the topic of fatigue levels associated with UAS operators, particularly within the military due to commercial UAV flights in the U.S. being limited in the amount of flight time that can be achieved. The case analysis for this course allowed this author to look at the issue of fatigue and UAV operators and determine what the issues were, why the issues were significant, alternative actions that could be taken to reduce fatigue levels, and a recommendation of my choosing to prevent fatigue from leading to UAV accidents. This author found the case analysis to be an effective tool when conducting research on the chosen topic. This author also found this case analysis to be easier than the case analysis in ASCI 530 (this author wrote on detect, sense, and avoid technology) due to the relationship between fatigue in manned aircraft pilots and UAV operators. Fatigue is an issue that has been explored in great detail in manned aircraft operations, but this author did spend some time searching for relevant information on the topic of fatigue for UAS operators. Once relevant research was found, the alternative actions and recommendations sections were much simpler to discuss due to the fact that fatigue in unmanned and manned operations can be prevented in a similar manner.

            A case analysis is an excellent tool for not only conducting research on a topic, but also for understanding a decision making process. This author is currently a full time college student working on his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, but this author does see the potential for utility in what will hopefully be his future line of work; a professional pilot. The case analysis tool allows a student to move away from the standard format of a research paper and focus in a relevant issues related to UAS operations. This author did find it hard to write the recommendations section of the case analysis due to the simple fact that the answer to the reduction of fatigue in UAS operators appears to be centered around healthy eating habits, exercise, and proper sleep. These methods can be directly applied to manned aircraft operations and have been for years. This author was able to take some ideas from manned operations such as bunk sleep, cockpit napping (or for UAS operations, ground control station napping), short breaks, social interaction, and even development of new work schedules.

            A case analysis allows a student to look at a problem from different perspectives. There may be different methods to solve a problem, but the student must choose two actions that are most likely to solve the issue in a realistic manner. In the workplace, one worker will not have all the answers to a problem. There will be times in which unique ideas will be the best way to solve a problem. The case analysis tool used in this course allows a student to look at the different perspectives surrounding an issue. As far as utility in this author's future career, this tool will allow the author to logically develop a mental model to solve problems on the ground and potentiality during flight, but checklists that have been developed over time should have the answers to most issues that occur in the cockpit.

            The layout of the case analysis is set in an orderly fashion that flows logically. This author greatly appreciated the peer reviews that were conducted on the abstract and the rough draft. Other students in the class had some interesting ideas that helped this author complete the case analysis. As stated in this authors' last review of the case analysis tool in ASCI 530, this author would recommend a final peer review of the final draft of the case analysis. There does not need to be a defense for this peer review, but having an extra set of graduate school level eyes review the paper can be beneficial. This author also does not feel that 20 pages is necessary for the case analysis, but reaching this page length is dependent upon the chosen topic. As stated previously, this author had trouble reaching the page limit for ASCI 530, but for this class, this author was able to create a case analysis with 27 complete pages of information due to the available information on manned aircraft fatigue and countermeasures for preventing fatigue. For students choosing a topic for the case analysis, a topic with plenty of information readily available should be chosen. This should make the process of reaching the page limit easier.