Effect of technological changes on airport security personnel: age-related analysis

Purpose- The aim of the study is to determine the impact of technological changes on age-based airport security personnel. Due to its strategic importance, airports have the potential to attract danger. There have been terrorist attacks at airports since the early years of aviation. Security control processes have been developed and implemented at airports since the 1970s. The airport security processes vary depending on the threat profiles. With the September 11, 2001 twin tower attacks, the world's aviation security processes have completely changed. Over the last decade, changes in the threat profile have occurred. The main purpose of aviation is to provide service to passengers by creating space and time benefits. The balance of passengers' comfort and safety to be maintained by air depends on the type of threats and the technology used in security. For this reason, large investments are made in the development of security technology at airports. Methodology- 28-item questionnaire was applied to the airport security officers over the internet. 276 security personnel working in airports participated in the study. Age-based analysis was performed using chi-square analysis. In this process, small-scale, relatively simple security systems at the airports, large-scale, high-tech systems were introduced. New technological systems are digital, networked, software oriented and mobile solutions. Although there is a rapid change in airport security technologies, the security personnel and the human element using the technology remain the same. Considering that human factor is the user of technology, the attitude of individuals towards technology is effective in ensuring airport security. Technological change has had a significant impact on the attitudes, behaviors and mental structure of the employees. Technological change causes many psychological effects such as monotony, boredom, fatigue, stress and anxiety. Findings- In the survey conducted to evaluate the approach of airport security personnel to technological change, 67% of security personnel were exposed to technological changes. The respondents defined technology as convenience and convenience (37%), innovation (36.6%) and efficiency (15.2%). Airport security personnel preferred to provide training and courses on the technology to be applied (48.6%) for the adoption of the new technology and 51.4% stated that they adopted the latest technological development applied in airport security in 7 days and under 6 days. 59.8% of the respondents stated that the technological change in airport security brought about an increase in the level of security. Conclusion- As a result of findings, it can be said that the management of technological change is important for organizations. Ensuring security at airports is important in terms of minimizing the psychological, social, economic and physical impacts of technology on security personnel due to the key human factor. Training of security personnel before the technological change to be applied increases the interaction between technology and individual and contributes to the personnel to make appropriate decisions because it recognizes the technology.