Dynamic capabilities in airport management : A study of Jönköping Airport

Abstract: Background: The deregulation of the airline and airport sectors has introduced airport managers to free market competition. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to identify dynamic capabilities in a regional airport, examine which of the predominant views they correlate to and whether dynamic capabilities concern different levels of strategy. Method: This study uses a qualitative method. Data are collected through a documentary review and interview. The documentary review concerns the features of and trends in the airport sector. The interviews were conducted with three managers of Jönköping Airport, experienced at managing regional airports in Sweden and Europe. Conclusion: The study identified several dynamic capabilities correlating in various degrees to the different predominant views. Some of dynamic capabilities found were of the kind that might be expected at most firms, such as strategic decision-making and product development. Others were more specific for the sector, such as the ability to build a highly adaptable work force. However, none were irrelevant across businesses. This is thought to be a result of the focus on higher management. The study also found that different dynamic capabilities concern different levels of strategy. Strategic decision-making concern corporate-level strategy, while product development is concerned with business-level strategizing. We suggest this is one way of approaching the proposition made by Winter (2003) that there are different levels of dynamic capabilities ad infinitum.