Executive Summary
Executive Summary
In this report, film was used as a learning resource to analyze selected organizational behaviour models found in today’s workplace. As film is one of the more engaging mediums, this allows for abstract theories to be presented visually and in a dramatic manner. The film Apollo 13 was selected to showcase such models including the communication process model, types of decision making models, and the five-stage model of team development. Apollo 13 chronicles the events of the 1971 lunar mission involving three astronauts; Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert. After a successful launch, a critical error occurs and the team of astronauts must work together with Mission Control to ensure their survival on their journey back to earth. This error creates conflict among the group of astronauts and negatively impacts team dynamics affecting their chances of survival; but as Commander Jim Lovell manages the changes in group dynamics by taking on task and maintenance oriented roles, he is able to return the group to a normal state. The communication process model shows how information is effectively passed from sender to receiver. This is analyzed in the scene where the crew must communicate effectively with Mission Control to construct a piece of equipment vital to their survival aboard the spacecraft and reveals the positive impact effective communication has on an organization with not only its employees but also with its customers. The types of decision making models consist of the rational model, the intuitive decision-making model, the bounded rationality model, and the garbage can model; each with their own advantages and disadvantages. These models are particularly evident in the scene where a team of scientists at Mission Control are trying to think of the fastest and safest way to bring the astronauts back to earth. Although some models may consider more variables or produce more possible courses of action, the decision on what
In this report, film was used as a learning resource to analyze selected organizational behaviour models found in today’s workplace. As film is one of the more engaging mediums, this allows for abstract theories to be presented visually and in a dramatic manner. The film Apollo 13 was selected to showcase such models including the communication process model, types of decision making models, and the five-stage model of team development. Apollo 13 chronicles the events of the 1971 lunar mission involving three astronauts; Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert. After a successful launch, a critical error occurs and the team of astronauts must work together with Mission Control to ensure their survival on their journey back to earth. This error creates conflict among the group of astronauts and negatively impacts team dynamics affecting their chances of survival; but as Commander Jim Lovell manages the changes in group dynamics by taking on task and maintenance oriented roles, he is able to return the group to a normal state. The communication process model shows how information is effectively passed from sender to receiver. This is analyzed in the scene where the crew must communicate effectively with Mission Control to construct a piece of equipment vital to their survival aboard the spacecraft and reveals the positive impact effective communication has on an organization with not only its employees but also with its customers. The types of decision making models consist of the rational model, the intuitive decision-making model, the bounded rationality model, and the garbage can model; each with their own advantages and disadvantages. These models are particularly evident in the scene where a team of scientists at Mission Control are trying to think of the fastest and safest way to bring the astronauts back to earth. Although some models may consider more variables or produce more possible courses of action, the decision on what