Film Analysis & Discussion - Challenger: Go for launch

Part 2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L_4vWVv4dMLinks to an external site.

Part 3:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4byUlLnAvvkLinks to an external site.

Part 4:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r92TM3N4cG4&t=11sLinks to an external site.

Challenger - Go for Launch

Please watch parts 2,3, & 4 of this documentary on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. This is one of the best documentaries that I have found on the disaster that focuses on the issues of groupthink and faulty decision making. The videos are about 30 minutes in total.

Questions:

1. What were the pressures on the launch decision?

1. Where there specific physical constraints on the decision process? Pay attention to the phone call when the decision to launch was made.

1. What was the aftermath of the decision, not just on the participant, but on the organization itself.

Identify examples from the film of three of the following symptoms of Group Think:

• Illusion of invulnerability
• Inherent morality
• Rationalization
• Stereotyping
• Self-censorship
• Illusion of unanimity
• Peer pressure
• Mindguards

Live CNN Coverage of the Disaster -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4JOjcDFtBELinks to an external site.