How ChatGPT helped me understand that DEI and CRM have a relationship
The concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is many things to many people. While at its core it is an organizational approach that encourages fair treatment of groups that historically have not been treated fairly in the workplace, the concept has also entered the political arena, causing some to see DEI as a symbol of something either good or bad politically, rather than as a way to improve workplace relationships.
As an aviation safety professional, my understanding of the basic foundation of DEI sounded very similar to a concept called Cockpit (or Crew) Resource Management (CRM), which is an approach to managing an aircraft that does away with the long-standing naval tradition of the captain having unquestioned authority in the cockpit, and trains crews to, among other things, share their insights about what is going on with the flight, including pointing out errors made by senior crew members.
Fans of DEI and fans of CRM are from different worlds, but share common basic ideas and goals
Having worked in the world of aviation and the corporate world, my experience is that the people in aviation that embrace CRM are on average way more politically conservative than those in the corporate world who embrace DEI and would likely believe that DEI has nothing to offer to the CRM world. Having been exposed to both, I believe that the two concepts have a lot in common, and while I could write a decent short essay on the subject, I decided to let ChatGPT do my work for me.
How I use ChatGPT
ChatGPT is one of the many AI-based applications that in 2023 has generated massive amounts of hype and media attention. Hype aside, I looked at this kind of AI tool as just a different kind of online tool or resource. Like email, websites, search engines, and social media platforms, in decades past, online AI tools like ChatGPT are having their moment in the media sun, and the excitement will fade as it becomes just another tool.
How I use that tool is evolving, but one way I use it is to compare my written ideas about a subject with what ChatGPT would write. So far, I have found that the quality of the output is directly related to the quality of the prompt that I use as input. Like the early days of using a search engine, with practice, one can get better at creating output that makes sense and that can be used as a generator for new ideas or as a reality check on your own ideas.
CRM and DEI, what’s the connection?
Below is my demonstration of just how good or bad this tool may be. After asking ChatGPT, specifically, the ChatGPT 4 model used by chat.openai.com, I used as a prompt the following statement:
What are the common basic tenets of cockpit resource management when it comes to how the crew interacts in the cockpit and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts when it comes to how employees interact in an organization?
Below is the unedited ChatGPT response:
While Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts are distinct concepts focused on different contexts, there are some common underlying principles that apply to how crews interact in the cockpit and how employees interact in an organization. These principles include:
1. Communication: Open and effective communication is crucial in both CRM and DEI efforts. In the cockpit, crew members communicate clearly and assertively using standardized protocols. Similarly, in an organization, employees need to engage in open and transparent communication to foster understanding, collaboration, and inclusivity.
2. Collaboration and Teamwork: Both CRM and DEI emphasize the value of collaboration and teamwork. In the cockpit, crew members work together as a team, utilizing the skills and knowledge of each individual. In an organization, fostering a collaborative environment encourages employees to work together, leverage diverse perspectives, and support one another to achieve common goals.
3. Respect and Inclusion: Respecting each other’s contributions, experiences, and perspectives is essential in both CRM and DEI. In the cockpit, crew members create an environment that values and respects everyone’s input, regardless of rank or position. Similarly, in an organization, creating an inclusive environment means recognizing and appreciating the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of employees and ensuring that everyone feels respected and valued.
4. Shared Decision-making: CRM and DEI both encourage shared decision-making processes. In the cockpit, crew members collaborate in making decisions, ensuring that input from all relevant individuals is considered. In an organization, involving employees in decision-making processes, particularly those that affect them, promotes a sense of ownership and inclusivity.
5. Continuous Learning and Improvement: Both CRM and DEI initiatives promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement. In the cockpit, ongoing training and professional development are essential for enhancing skills and knowledge. Likewise, in an organization, continuous learning through training programs, feedback mechanisms, and assessing the effectiveness of DEI efforts helps identify areas for improvement and ensures ongoing progress.
While CRM specifically focuses on aviation safety and the unique challenges of the cockpit environment, and DEI addresses creating an inclusive organizational culture, there are overlapping principles related to communication, collaboration, respect, shared decision-making, and continuous learning that can contribute to both cockpit interactions and employee interactions in an organization.
How did ChatGPT do? — I gave it a B+
As a first draft, this was a much better overview than I expected. If I were to use it as a first draft, I might word things a bit differently to appeal to a wider audience, and I would definitely point out that CRM, and likely DEI, would be relevant when working with people with widely different cultural and political backgrounds. If I were lazy, I would use it without any changes.
What does this all mean?
I treat ChatGPT, and other AI-related applications, as another writing and communications tool. In time, schools, businesses, and governments will learn how to live with the new reality of AI in the hands of the average person. As has been the case with most technologies, what someone does with it will be directly related to their desire, determination, imagination, and willingness to do what it takes to understand and use that tool. So far as I know, there is not an AI in the world that can do that for you.
A note on what to call CRM
The ‘C’ in CRM is either Crew or Cockpit depending on who you ask. In the late 1970s and 1980s, CRM usually meant Cockpit Resource Management. Because the underlying concepts could be applied outside of the cockpit, and in order to generalize the concept, the term Crew Resource Management is not only more inclusive, but also much more common and is the term used by both the FAA and ICAO.
The example in this article used the term “Cockpit Resource Management,” but if you replaced “Cockpit” with “Crew,” you would likely see a very similar response from the AI. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself, preferably with a free or trial version of ChatGPT.
UPDATE: The role of CRM in the January 29, 2025 collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Blackhawk Helicopter near Washington, DC
In a White House press conference the day after the accident, President Trump stated several opinions about DEI and its possible role in the cause of the accident. Whether the results of the accident investigation will support any of his opinions may not be known for months or possibly a year or more. CRM, which shares many of the tenets of DEI, certainly played a role not only in this accident but in the global airline industry.
Since its formal introduction to airline crews in the U.S. in the 1980s, CRM as a set of training procedures focuses on improving communication, decision-making and task management among crew members to reduce errors and prevent accidents, has become one of the most important reasons that major accidents have gone from a common occurrence 30 years ago to a rare occurrence in the U.S. and much of the world today. In the 21st century, there have been three airliner accidents in the U.S. that killed everyone on board the aircraft. In contrast, in 1996 alone, three airliner accidents killed everyone on board, including the ValuJet crash near Miami and the crash of TWA Flight 800 near New York.
CRM alone did not lead to a much safer reality for airline passengers, but it remains an essential part of aviation and will continue to prevent airliner accidents in the future.
