MOVIE REVIEW

Watch the documentary entitled, “DOWNFALL: The case against Boeing", and answer
the following questions.

1. Do you believe that leadership influences organizational transformation at Boeing?

How is Boeing adapting to change?

Yes, definitely leadership has significantly influenced the organizational

transformation of Boeing. As a matter of fact Boeing's past is a powerful example of how
it can shape the company's future and destiny. Back in the day, Boeing was driven by
visionary leaders. They soared as aviation pioneers, prioritizing building the best and
pushing the boundaries of innovation. This led to the creation of the first commercial
airplanes, making travel accessible to everyone. But as competition from companies like
Airbus took off, things changed.

The merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997 was a high stakes move to stay
ahead of competition. It had an intention of making them remain competitive but it also
meant a different kind of leadership. This potential shift in priorities as hinted by the
documentary might imply more focus on money-making than anything else including
safety people first strategy change may have influenced decisions other tragic MAX 737
crashes.

Every choice made by the leaders of any organization is significant, especially

regarding design, production, and how they communicated, for it had a ripple effect on
the company's ability to adapt and thrive. According to the documentary,the new
leadership's focus on boosting stock value and maximizing profits, in which it might
have led to prioritizing cutting costs during 737 MAX production, potentially
compromising crucial safety features. This prioritizing of profit over safety ultimately led
to the devastating consequences of the 2018 and 2019 crashes.

However, after these events, Boeing recognized the need to change course.
They've made leadership changes with a focus on regaining public trust and putting
safety first. They've addressed technical issues with the 737 MAX and become more
transparent in their communication. While it's still too early to say if their transformation
journey will be successful, these actions show a willingness to learn from their mistakes
and adapt.

To sum up everything Boeing's story serves as a powerful reminder that the

choices leaders make have a profound impact on the culture, decisions, and ultimately,
the future of their organization. It's a story of ambition, mistakes, and ultimately, the
hope for a better future built on safety and trust.

2. What are the strengths of Boeing? What do you see as the future of the Boeing
Company, if you are an operations manager?

"If it's Boeing, I'm flying." For decades, this iconic slogan has resonated with
travelers worldwide, symbolizing trust and innovation in the skies. Behind this reputation
lies a company with a rich history and a diverse product portfolio catering to both
commercial and military needs. This diversification has provided Boeing with stability
and a strong global presence, allowing them to establish relationships with airlines and
suppliers worldwide. However, even the most legendary journeys face turbulence.
Recent challenges have tested Boeing's strength, and if I were an operations manager,
I believe navigating the future requires a laser focus on key areas and these are
regaining trust and prioritizing safety, embracing innovation, and adapting to a changing
market. Firstly, rebuilding trust requires addressing past concerns and fostering a
culture that prioritizes safety above all else. Secondly, continuous investment in
research and development is crucial to stay ahead of the curve and develop fuel-
efficient, sustainable aircraft. Lastly, the industry is evolving rapidly, demanding agility
and strategic adaptation to remain competitive.

While challenges remain, Boeing's strengths and potential for adaptation provide
a promising future. By focusing on regaining trust, embracing innovation, and adapting
to a changing market, Boeing can continue to inspire the world and live up to its iconic
slogan: "If it's Boeing, I'm flying."

3. Do you believe Boeing can recover, and what are the challenges they face?
If you are an operation manager, what are the lessons learned from this documentary?

The heartbreaking question posed by the pilot's widow, "Is profit more important
than human lives?", resonated deeply and rightly underscores a critical issue Boeing
must address for true recovery. While focusing solely on short-term gains may have
contributed to past challenges, a sustainable future demands a shift in priorities.

Rebuilding trust with the public, achieving financial recovery, maintaining a

competitive edge and resolving legal matters are four significant challenges for Boeing
in the coming years. To overcome these hurdles, Boeing must consider as its main
concern regaining trust from the public since this is critically important. This can be
achieved if Boeing is transparent about what has happened before in order to openly
admit their faults which involve safety measures during plane making progress and
show their commitment to being ethical even if it means losing out on immediate profit.
Secondly, there will also be need of better operational practices for financial recovery.
To avoid compromising safety while building planes efficiently; they must build planes in
such a way that they can keep up with current technological trends within the aviation
industry. Thirdly, managing ongoing legal battles and possible financial settlements
stemming from 737 MAX accidents shall impose a heavy toll on its finances. Lastly,
remaining competitive in a changing business environment calls for constant change. In
order for Boeing to meet this challenge it needs to encourage creative thinking among
workers while at the same time maintain ecological balance so that it would not lag
behind others due to market changes caused by environmental factors.

As an operations manager, the documentary emphasized the crucial role of

transparency and honesty in this industry, where even minor lapses in information
disclosure can endanger the lives of hundreds or even thousands of individuals. This
experience reinforces the importance of adhering to one's values and morals, never
prioritizing financial gain over the safety of customers. This aligns with the sentiment
that prioritizing customer safety should supersede the interests of stakeholders and
executives.

In conclusion, Boeing's path to recovery hinges on prioritizing safety, fostering

transparency, adapting to the evolving industry landscape, and responsibly managing
the legal consequences of past decisions. By learning from past mistakes, adhering to
ethical principles, and putting people first, they can rebuild trust, achieve financial
stability, and regain their position as a leader in the aviation industry

4. What is your key takeaway from this documentary? It possible to integrate what you
learned from the documentary into your course? Give a rationale for your answer.

In our course, from a particular lesson in Product and Service design, the
main focus is Customer Satisfaction, and Cost/Profit only comes next. However, Boeing
prioritized generating profit instead of focusing on their customers' safety. As future
business administrators, we will soon start up our own company or work in different
business firms and industries, and we need to instill in our minds that quality service is
necessary.

We must also remember that we must take good care of the employees, for they
are the company's backbone. That's what Boeing forgot: to cherish the people who
contributed to the company's success as one of the pioneers in the aviation industry.
Because of the employees' hard work, brilliance, and dedication, the company was able
to present itself in the market with astounding plans that, in the years to come, will help
boost the company and be on top. That's why other companies need to invest in their
employees with training and not exploit them to be able to deliver quality products for
their customers.
 Another important lesson the documentary showed us was the importance of
transparency. A company needs to gain its customers' trust to keep its products
patronized by the public. How can customers trust a particular brand if they are unsure if
the company offers them something safe and trustworthy and cannot put their lives at
risk?

These are some of the many lessons from the documentary that would be helpful
not just in the present time for us in our program but later on if we become professional
individuals in the business world.