Post date: Nov 26, 2013 1:45:37 PM
Complete Challenger reports (3 documents/1 file) by noon December 6. Submit to turnitin.com.
Please complete the online course survey. This is not the standardized department course evaluation; however, your participation will provide important feedback to me regarding the course.
Send QEP reflection in a Word file to c-raisor@tamu.edu by November 26.
Before next (last) class meeting
Complete ABET survey and bring to next class meeting. You will receive a copy in class, but the form is also attached below.
Listen to Roger Boisjoly's presentation (audio only). Record key observations regarding communication.
Based on what you have learned thus far from this case study, prepare a list of your 3 best arguments for each position:
"Defense Attorney" for Thomas and upper management (He is telling the truth)
"Prosecuting Attorney" for Thomas and upper management (He is not telling the truth)
Background
CHAIRMAN ROGERS: "By way of a question, could I ask, did any of you gentlemen, prior to launch, know about the objections of Thiokol to the launch?"
MR. SMITH (Kennedy Space Director): "I did not."
MR. THOMAS (Launch Director): "No sir."
MR ALDRICH (Space Program Director): "I did not."
MR. MOORE (Associate Administrator for Space Flight): "I did not."
Thomas was asked what would have happened if the Thiokol concerns had been made known to him. He replied: “I can assure you that if we had had that information, we wouldn’t have launched if it hadn’t been 53 degrees.”
For full discussion see PDF: "The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: A Study in Organizational Ethics" at
http://pirate.shu.edu/~mckenndo/pdfs/The%20Space%20Shuttle%20Challenger%20Disaster.pdf.
Bring typed list of arguments to next class meeting.