Groupthink: The Challenger Shuttle Mission

The idea that Groupthink could contribute to an event as large and important as the Challenger shuttle mission is unfathomable to most. To fully understand and break down how this might have happened, it is best to describe and gain an understanding of what groupthink is.
By definition, Groupthink is a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment in the interest of group solidarity. (Dubrin, 2004) To further clarify, this mindset places the value in getting along as a group as a higher priority over getting things done. So, when one thinks of the possibilities and consequences of this behavior as it relates to a mission such as the Challenger shuttle, it begs the question as to whether or not there are safeguards …show more content…
In the case of the Challenger, the NASA managers received both internal and external warnings regarding the safety, yet they were all ignored based on the will of the group to complete the objective. It should also be noted however that the management style of NASA managers has always been one in which they rarely reverse decisions made nor did they tend to regard the advice of others outside of their …show more content…
There have been several shuttle missions since the challenger that have been called off merely seconds prior to launch. One of the preventive measures that could be put into place to avoid groupthink with future missions, would be the regular and periodic inclusion of qualified outsiders meeting with the group. The management team would also need to reevaluate its culture of never reversing a decision. There are both pros and cons to having such conviction in decision making, however, if there are catastrophic repercussions, it should never be a status quo in this decision making process. Perhaps the group could benefit from the use of an oversite committee that would provide alternative views that would still solely fall onto the group but, it warrants having the additional viewpoints.
To help reduce some of the negative aspects of group think, the team leader specifically, should, or in some cases just one of the members of a group, should see that encouragement of is given to the team members to feel comfortable in expressing its views, doubts or criticisms of any proposed solutions or courses of action to address the problem at

Show More

Groupthink Theory

Management Study Guide Exam 2 Essay

Groupthink: The Challenger Shuttle Mission

Related Documents: Groupthink: The Challenger Shuttle Mission

Groupthink Theory

Management Study Guide Exam 2 Essay