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• Case | HBS Case Collection | June 2020

  What Went Wrong with Boeing’s 737 Max?

  William W. George and Amram Migdal

  This case describes the development of the Boeing 737 Max airplane model and the events leading up to two tragic plane crashes, in which a total of 346 people died: the crash of Lion Air flight 610 on October 29, 2018, in Indonesia, and the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 on March 9, 2019, in Ethiopia. The evolution of Boeing’s organization and management is described, focusing on the span from Boeing’s 1997 merger with rival McDonnell Douglas through the development of the 737 Max and the crashes. The case examines the antecedents and possible causes of the crashes, both through the lens of industry and competitive dynamics and through the lens of corporate culture and development processes at Boeing. The development of the 737 Max is described in detail, including the factors and decisions that led to the development of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), the system that ultimately led to the crashes. Information about Boeing’s response and actions during the period between the two crashes is also included in the case.

  Keywords: Communication; Communication Intention and Meaning; Communication Strategy; Forms of Communication; Announcements; Decision Making; Decision Choices and Conditions; Judgments; Ethics; Moral Sensibility; Values and Beliefs; Globalization; Global Strategy; Governance; Corporate Accountability; Governance Controls; Human Resources; Resignation and Termination; Leadership; Leadership Style; Management; Business or Company Management; Crisis Management; Management Practices and Processes; Management Skills; Management Style; Management Systems; Risk Management; Time Management; Markets; Demand and Consumers; Market Platforms; Supply and Industry; Duopoly and Oligopoly; Industry Structures; Operations; Product Development; Organizations; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Outcome or Result; Failure; Success; Planning; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges; Relationships; Business and Community Relations; Business and Government Relations; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Risk and Uncertainty; Safety; Strategy; Transportation; Air Transportation; Aerospace Industry; Air Transportation Industry; Africa; Ethiopia; Asia; Indonesia; North and Central America; United States; Seattle; Chicago;

  Citation:

  George, William W., and Amram Migdal. "What Went Wrong with Boeing’s 737 Max?" Harvard Business School Case 320-104, June 2020.  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2019 (Revised June 2020)

  The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?

  Boris Groysberg, Kerry Herman and Carin-Isabel Knoop

  Chair of LAX Board Sean Burton and LAX CEO Deborah Flint have made progress on streamlining and modernizing LAX's complex capital projects ($12 billion worth) while reorganizing and retooling Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) staff resources, management processes, and revitalizing the LAX guest experience. From 2015 to 2019, LAX's performance improved, yet many challenges remained, and new ones continued to come to light. In December 2019, as Flint prepared to move onto a new position, Burton and the board are assessing the progress the team has made, and looking to next steps.

  Keywords: Leadership and Change Management; Leadership; Change Management; Performance Improvement; Strategic Planning; Air Transportation; Outcome or Result; Air Transportation Industry; Los Angeles;

  Citation:

  Groysberg, Boris, Kerry Herman, and Carin-Isabel Knoop. "The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?" Harvard Business School Case 420-025, December 2019. (Revised June 2020.)  View Details

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• Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | June 2020

  The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?

  Boris Groysberg, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Kerry Herman and Amy Klopfenstein

  This teaching note serves as a supplement to “The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?” HBS 420-025.

  Keywords: Change; Change Management; Transformation; Leadership; Leading Change; Leadership Style; Management; Management Practices and Processes; Management Succession; Organizations; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Mission and Purpose; Strategy; Alignment; Transportation; Air Transportation; Transportation Networks; Air Transportation Industry; North and Central America; United States; California; Los Angeles;

  Citation:

  Groysberg, Boris, Carin-Isabel Knoop, Kerry Herman, and Amy Klopfenstein. "The New LAX: Ready for Takeoff?" Harvard Business School Teaching Note 420-091, June 2020.  View Details

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