Situational Analysis: Flight 232
Effective leadership negotiation strategies are helpful in building a sphere of influence, especially in times of emergency or a crisis. In this assignment, you will analyze a case study video and perform a situational analysis. The activity will allow you to assess the crisis situation and examine factors that affect the final resolution of the problem.
The purpose of this assignment is to develop your leadership and crisis management skills by using a real-life case study example.
Case Study: On July 19, 1989, United Airways Flight 232 DC 10 was en route from Denver to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, via Chicago. The plane had to make an emergency crash landing in Sioux City, Iowa, because of an engine failure that occurred 1 hour into the flight. Approximately 296 passengers including business people, vacationers, and children were on board.
Part 1: Personal Profile
The case study includes several characters such as the captain, the copilot, a DC-10 flight training instructor, and a senior flight attendant who play a crucial role in the final outcome of the crisis.
- Captain Al Haynes
- The copilot, Bill Records
- DC-10 flight training instructor, Denny Fitch
- Senior flight attendant, Jan Brown-Lohr
Select two of the characters involved in this case study and create a personal profile of each including their title, work type, position in job, education, training, and personality type. Include both of the personal profiles as appendices in your research paper.
Use your assigned readings, information from the Argosy library, the Internet and the case study video clip provided to develop a research paper that answers the questions below in Part 2.
Part 2: Choose one of the two characters you profiled and answer these questions in a 5-7 page research paper.
- Critically examine the role of the crew on board and explain situations that needed more attention and that could have been addressed within the given constraints.
- Describe at least three factors that affected the resolution of the problem.
- What is the main goal of the character you are analyzing? Support your response.
- How effective or ineffective was the individual in his/her attempt to meet the goals? Why?
- What specific personal negotiation and leadership skills did he or she demonstrate throughout the crisis?
- How well does the individual know himself or herself, and how effectively or ineffectively did he or she adapt to the circumstances and personalities involved on board Flight 232?