Case Study: Boeing 737 Rudders

Apply the nine system properties to the case study to transform the case study into a system.

1. Hologrammatic – In developing the system, we need to describe the elements and their respective
attributes. The attributes include the interaction/connection to the other elements. The elements
and their attributes are:

a. The Flying Public – The Flying Public is made up of consumers who use air travel for
business, tourism and pleasure.
Behaviour: Purchase airline tickets from the airlines, with the aid of a travel agent. They
trust that the airlines would only hire well trained pilots to fly commercial aircraft because
any mistakes are bad for business. They trust that the agencies of Government would not
allow an unsafe aircraft to fly. It is not a blind trust because the agencies disagree of what
constitutes "tolerable" air safety. Everybody is aware that "absolute" safety is not only
impossible, but overly costly.
Connections: Airlines, Travel Agents, Government Agencies

b. The Airlines and The Pilots – The Airlines and Pilots are made up of the businesses in the
market for air travel and the pilots are the agents who represent the business.
Behaviour: Like the public, the airlines and the pilots have a great deal to lose when planes
crash. The airlines are profit-making enterprises who must keep costs in check, while
ensuring safe flying. Airlines are entrusted with keeping the aircrafts in top air-worthy
condition without cutting corners on maintenance. The pilots have as much to lose in the
event of a crash as the flying public (their lives). They trust that the government agencies
will require businesses to ensure safe aircraft.
Connections: The Flying Public, Travel Agents, Air-Traffic Controllers, Government Agencies

c. The Aircraft Manufacturer – The Aircraft Manufacturer

Behaviour:
Connections:

d. The Travel Agencies and Air Traffic Controllers – The Air Traffic controller co-ordinate
schedule the flight times of aircraft to keep runways clear and open. The Travel Agents
inform the flying public of available flights and destinations.
Behaviour: They have the incentive to ensure that flights are scheduled and air traffic is well
controlled to prevent any safety risks. Poor air traffic controlling is bad for business.
Connections: The Flying Public, Airlines, Pilots

e. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – The FAA is the policy and decision making
agency in charge of aviation safety.
 Behaviour: The FAA chooses which NTSB policies it wishes to adopt. The FAA is responsible
for any issues regarding unsafe aircraft. The FAA has to balance the enforcement of safety
while maintaining its desire to encourage airlines business.
Connections: Airlines, NTSB, The White House, Air Traffic Controllers
f. The US National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) – The NTSB is an independent federal
agency separate from the FAA.
Behaviour: The NTSB is a technically-equipped agency that conducts crash investigations.
However, it can only make recommendations and does not make any decisions in final
policy. During disagreements the two agencies do not publicly criticise each other to prevent
shaking public confidence in air travel.
Connections: The FAA, The White House

g. The White House – The White House empowers overlooks the federal agencies on behalf of
the public.
Behaviour: The White House mediates between the overly-cautious NTSB and the risk
mitigating FAA to ensure that a middle ground can be reached between the two agencies.
However; the White House has the incentive not to intervene too often in the affairs of the
agencies, as this is functions which are outside the usual functions of the White House.
Connections: The FAA, The NTSB, The Flying Public

2. Teleological – The purpose of the system is to ensure that there exists a competitive market for air-
travel services while maintaining a high standard for public safety. If there is no foundation for a
market to exist and for business to be profitable then there will be no air-travel services (market
failure). In order for the market to exist there needs to be a co-ordination among the various groups
within the system, each with a role and whom without the system would fail.

3. Reflexive – The system is reflexive. That is, the system was necessarily created by a designer.

4. Structure – Both the individual parts and the whole are necessary to the function of the system.
How each component within the system interacts among each other is equally as important as the
components themselves.

5. Meta-Stability – The system exhibits a form of Meta-stability. As noted in the case-study it was
reported that "most passengers reject any fear of flying" and that the warning that 737's may not be
as safe as first believed "drew a shrug from the public." With the news of potential hazards from
flying – a small perturbation – shows that the system was stable. But, if we remember back to
September 11, 2001 – a large perturbation to say the least – showed that consumer confidence had
dwindle in the FAA, airlines, security, etc. It took some time for that connection to be re-established.

6. Emergence – The emergent property in this system is the interaction of all the agencies to create
safe yet efficient air travel. The flying public depend on the federal agencies to uphold stringent
policies regarding air safety. The Airlines compete with one another for the flying public’s business.
 Having the safest aircraft will attract flyers to your business so the incentive is there to provide great
and safe service at the lowest price possible. These interactions are emergent properties of the
entire system.

7. Hierarchy – There is hierarchy in the system in that the capabilities or the responsibilities of one
group have a greater effect on the system as a whole. For example, the FAA and the NTSB get in a
dispute, it is the decision made by the White House (at the top of the hierarchy chain) that settles
the dispute amongst the two agencies. The agencies respect the “chain of command” which is an
integral part of the system.

8. Interdisciplinarity – In this case-study there is the apparent inter-disciplinarity between the NTSB
and the FAA. Although both are trying to uphold air travel safety, there is a difference in the analysis
of what constitutes safe air travel.

9. Complexity – The system is complex in that it has many parts all which inter-relate with one another.
The relationship between all these parts is intricate and very difficult to model. There are numerous
elements and numerous relations which connect these elements.