Struggling to Find HR Policies for My Thesis on Airlines: Any Data Collection Tips?

Hello Everyone, I am a Ph.D. student, and my thesis topic is a comparative study of HRM policies in the public and private sector airlines, with reference to Jet Airways and Air India. Can anyone guide me on data collection for the above? I am unable to find the HR policies. Please help with your suggestions for the same.

Thanks & Regards,
Miss Meenu.

Also, I have a paper presentation at an international conference. Please suggest some topics related to HR and airlines for the presentation.

Guidance on Thesis Topic and Data Collection

First, finalize the topic with your guide. Based on my experience, this title might be rejected by the Ph.D. panel members. If this topic is already approved by the panel, then it's okay. Please inform me about the number of public and private airways in India based on your preliminary survey. This information will allow me to guide you more effectively.

Before commencing the research, please prepare a synopsis under the guidance of your guide. Once your synopsis is ready, it will assist you in the right direction. For any further support, please contact me at [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Regards,
Manjunath MJ MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Thank you for your advice. It has been one year since I registered for my Ph.D. As you may know, for admission to a Ph.D. program, one needs to face the Doctoral Research Committee (DRC). My research topic has been sanctioned. Since there is only one public sector airline in India, which is Air India, I have chosen Jet Airways as the private sector airline to study.

Could you please guide me on potential sources for my data collection?

Regards,
Meenu.

Thank you for your message. Here is the revised version with corrections:

"Then you do one thing, don't depend on secondary data; go for primary data. First, study and collect the basic material on the nature of HR practices in the airline industry. After that, study generic universal HR policies in other companies. Based on that, prepare a questionnaire based on your preliminary study. Once you complete this stage, inform me. Once I have gone through your questionnaire, I will tell you how to proceed with the final questionnaire. When preparing the questions, refer to your synopsis where you give more preference to your aim and objectives of the study.

I apologize for my poor English.

Regards"

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need further assistance.

Thank you for your advice. I was also trying to collect data from primary sources, but the barrier that is hindering me is the cost involved. How can I obtain references from Jet and Air India for training permission? Do you know someone who has undergone training with these companies?

Regards,
Meenu

Thank you for your advice. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. course, focusing my research on the period from 2000 to 2010 in Air India and Jet Airways to compare HR policies. It has been one year since I started my Ph.D. program, and changing the topic at this stage is not feasible. Could you please guide me on potential sources for data collection?

Thank you.

You need to approach the companies; I am afraid you will not find the companies' policies from secondary sources. I am sorry to disappoint you in stating that it may be better to cut losses at this stage rather than pursuing the research to find that your thesis is not up to Ph.D. standard. I am stating this as an external examiner of a Ph.D. thesis from the University of Mysore.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Simhan

I am a Ph.D. student researching the comparative study of HRM policies in the public and private sectors of airlines, specifically focusing on Jet Airways and Air India. I am seeking guidance on data collection for my research as I am having difficulty locating the HR policies for these companies.

Guidance on Data Collection

Your topic is specific to Air India and Jet Airways and very specific about HRM Policies of these two companies, especially for a Ph.D. You have to be very serious about the study you are doing and also about the authenticity of data and information you are collecting. The only way to ensure that is to directly approach the management of these two companies. There is a possibility that these companies may not part with the information you need. But you should have thought about all these possibilities before deciding on the topic of your Ph.D.

Please provide your suggestions and guidance for the same.

Thanks & Regards,
Miss Meenu

Please do not waste your time asking here and there to collect secondary data for your research. Approach your college Admin Office and request a letter stating that you are a research student pursuing your Ph.D. in [specific subject], and that you wish to collect data on HR in Air India or Jet Airways. You may be permitted to conduct your research within their office.

If your University declines to provide a letter, have the courage to directly approach the highest-ranking person in that office and request permission to conduct your research as part of your Ph.D.

Wishing you all the best.

Dear S. Bhaskar, thank you for the advice. The purpose of asking here and there was simply to save on expenses. If I could get the project from an online source, a significant portion of my costs would be saved. This includes expenses such as traveling to Mumbai, accommodation, and taking leaves from my institute, resulting in a deduction of almost 15 to 20 days' salary. However, I have realized that searching in this manner is futile. Perhaps, by the end of the month, I will go by myself to gather the necessary information.

Thank you.

Information Source for Airline Policies

From the Airport Authority of India, you will get information about their policies and not those of Air India or Jet Airways. Approach the right person at the right place to get the right information.

If you approach the AAI, surely they will guide you and give some tips about how to approach and whom to approach (not names but only the portfolio of the concerned authority) in that office. As a matter of fact, our friend needs some clues to start collecting the primary information for her research. If we give her some edge of the thread, then she can catch hold of the thread and reach her destination. That's the reason I told her to approach the AAI. They may even route her to AI and Jet Airways offices in the local area itself, instead of directly approaching Mumbai or Delhi.

Thanks to all for the suggestions given above. I visited the Jet Airways office located in the airport premises of Jaipur, but they have no knowledge regarding training facilities for outsiders. They only have experience with their own induction training programs related to the job. One senior member guided me to approach the Delhi office and provided me with an email address of an HR personnel there, but there has been no response.

Now, I have only one option left, which is to visit the Delhi office and request permission to conduct research. I need to complete my thesis before the 30th of April and finish the primary data collection work by the end of February. I have set my objectives but have not yet finalized my route map.

Regards,

Please enquire about the details of the HR Head in Delhi from the Jet Airways Jaipur office. Get a letter issued from your college to that HR Head at the Delhi office. Approach with confidence and positive thinking, which will convey your message through your body language and movements, seeking assistance. You can commend Jet Airways for their services and hospitality in comparison to Government Airlines to potentially receive support more easily.

Wishing you all the best.

I do not want to give you false hopes, but rather prepare you for disappointments. I have had problems with my projects. Let this be a lesson for others: do not choose projects without conducting groundwork to determine if you can access primary data. It is highly unlikely that you will receive permission, even if you visit the Delhi office.

Wishing you all the best, and I hope to be proven wrong.

Have a nice day.

Regards,
Simhan

I don't understand why you have a negative impression of my topic. It was a relevant research topic, which is why it was sanctioned for research, so please don't criticize it. I was facing the problem of proper guidance regarding the collection of primary data sources. Now, I am clear that I will have to move forward and collect the data.

You mentioned that airlines will not disclose their policies. If this is the case, then no student would have ever completed assignments and projects on HR topics related to any company. As a student of MBA, I have prepared a project report on GSK's induction policy. HR policies are disclosed by the department for every student.

I am in need of guidance from seniors, so please do not unnecessarily misguide me.

I am not criticizing you. I am only warning you about realities. Given the problem that Air India is going through, I am just saying be prepared for disappointments. I have not got any negative impression about your topic. The supervisor only says that the topic is suitable when you write the synopsis.

Experience with Research and Data Collection

I have presented papers at international conferences. I conducted a questionnaire survey of 100+ universities; however, when I wanted to interview the respondents, no one had the time as universities were going through changes.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Simhan

I have recently presented a paper on the same topic at an international conference on HRM challenges in the airline industry. Thank you for your viewpoint; I will be prepared for all circumstances. I understand that employees are busy with their duties and may not have time to share knowledge with me, but it is my responsibility to collect data regardless.

Thank you.

Regards

I am writing this at the request of a member friend who asked me to look into this and provide any help if I can. Sorry to say, but I had gone through this thread earlier and felt disappointed enough to offer any comments.

Here we have a request from a person doing a Ph.D. seeking help for sources of information! I wonder if even this basic fact has not been factored in earlier before attempting the project. This is what makes people say - why is the project being undertaken? Just to get an ornamental title to put before one's name? Hope you do not feel offended at such remarks.

The Topic's Basic Nature

The topic selected is of such a basic nature that I do not think even first-semester students of Premier/Tier-I Business Schools would even think of attempting. What is the purpose of just COLLECTING FACTS about the HRM policies, etc., of two airlines - one in a public sector and the other in the private sector? Unless the purpose is to test or validate some hypothesis or discover new facts or specific competencies?

To conclude, I do not approve of the usage of such language like, "...and upgrade your knowledge level." with seniors who have an accredited track record in their chosen specialization, especially when the comment is not only unwarranted but also irrelevant. For example, why and how would knowing about a particular university holding a seminar, which it calls 'international' (whether it was actually that or not - depending on the numbers and quality of international delegates), enhance or upgrade one's knowledge 'level'?

Notwithstanding the above, I always welcome any new information or 'knowledge' that is relevant, correct, and useful.

Research Design Considerations

With reference to the instant subject matter, the research design itself SHOULD include the type of data required, sources of data collection, etc., and these should be spelled out at the beginning of the research design itself rather than trying to 'retro-fit' them based on the researcher's convenience or limitations.

Warm regards to all; I am especially thankful to boss2966 and vkokamthanker for their valuable inputs and doing their best to be helpful.