This synopsis will describe how issues faced by Boeing were similar to issues presented in the Global Communications scenario. It will show how Boeing applied some of our class learning concepts to their decisions and the outcomes of these actions.
Boeing has several similarities to the Global Communications (GC) scenario. Over 60,000 Boeing workers are represented by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) and 25,000 engineers and technical workers are represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). (Holmes, 2001, para. 3, 9). The company had been planning a cutback prior to September 11, 2001 due to softening sales and loss of market share to competitors like Airbus Industrie. After the terrorist attacks the company decided to cut 30,000 jobs; more than double what had been previously considered. Like GC, Boeing decided to reduce costs during a globalization campaign by outsourcing ÃÂas a way to both expand sales to nations that sign on as manufacturing partners and to tap into cheaper labor markets.ÃÂ
September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City: View ...
English: United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into t...
Airbus-Boeing-competition(Holmes, 2002, para. 4). Finally, similar to GC, the union took legal action charging that the company had violated its labor contract.
Class concepts usedUnlike Global Communications, Boeing had first been applying the basic concepts of organizational communication by including the unions in developing plans to cut thousands of jobs prior to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Boeing was planning to increase efficiency by increasing work to subcontractors and making production changes that allowed fewer people to assemble planes more quickly. After September 11, 2001 when Boeing announced the final scope of the planned cuts, the unions complained that the company was ÃÂusing it as an opportunity to justify an overreaction in the magnitude of the layoffs.ÃÂ (Holmes, 2001, para. 3).
The unions applying concepts of emotional intelligence proposed...