Seminar Saheli Nath

Saheli Nath (University of Central Oklahoma) will present her paper “Accounts, Accountability and Remedial Work in Error Cascades: The case of Boeing 737 MAX”.

The invited speaker is interested in a tenure-track job in the department (Area: Management).

Abstract

This research examines the assignment of accountability and blame in multilevel error cascades by utilizing Scott and Lyman's concept of "accounts" and Goffman's notion of "remedial work”. Preventing and learning from error cascades are key challenges in high-risk industries where firms strive to achieve greater reliability and resilience. Using oral and written testimony, archival records, media releases and employee reviews, this paper delves into the Boeing 737 MAX case to investigate the ways in which actors at multiple levels communicated their preferred meaning about the MAX accidents and the purported failure of Boeing’s novel MCAS technology. The findings from this study indicate that errors in the Boeing MAX case were the result of miscalculation of risks at different levels of the system at various points in time that can be traced back to several years before the actual accidents. These results speak to how organizational culture and executive decisions at Boeing resulted in multiple “misses” of opportunities to rectify their flawed technology and engage in comprehensive communication with other external stakeholders about the MCAS system.

If you want to attend this seminar online, please contact to d.empresa@uab.cat.