Question

• How can organizations, such as NASA, respond more effectively to ambiguous threats? For this question, specifically focus on how to encourage dissenting views.

Answer 1

I think organizations such as NASA could benefit from a more open form of communication in the workplace. It is obvious here that the work environment was so toxic that lower level employees felt they could not oppose leadership whatsoever, even with human lives at stake. Organizations need to change the culture of the work environment to one where employees feel safe and comfortable expressing their concerns to leadership in order to prevent disasters such as this one from happening. Leadership should also be more involved and supportive of employees. The Path-Goal Theory discussed in a previous lesson explains the different types of leadership. In an organization full of technical experts that are generally self-sufficient in their work roles, I think a supportive and participative leadership role would be best. The employees need to know that they will be listened to when they voice their concerns, and that their leadership will back them up if needed. Additionally, being that management are not technical experts, bringing the employees in to discuss the actual risks of the foam and propose solutions could have potentially resulted in a different outcome of the Colombia.