Leading airmen: a systems approach to squadron leadership

• Main Author: Sanchez, Orlando
• Other Authors: Simon, Cary
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/10279

MBA Professional Report === The purpose of this MBA Project was to investigate systems thinking and apply these principles to Air Force leadership. The paper offers squadron commanders, in particular, a primer in systems thinking that will enable them to approach unit leadership challenges from a systems perspective. The first two chapters examine the origins of systems thinking and present a holistic organizational model as the basis for problem analysis. Chapter II illustrates the importance of correctly interpreting the external environment and dealing with external influencers. Chapter III applies these concepts and introduces a systems approach to financial leadership. Finally, Chapter IV examines the roots of continuous process improvement and offers suggestions for commander implementation of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. This project is written directly to Air Force squadron commanders. It is the author's hope these topics will help spur commanders around the Air Force to challenge their mental frameworks towards developing and better enabling Airmen leadership to face the challenges of the twenty first century.