Organizational Behavior
The author of this report has been asked to review the case study that focuses on the NASA Odyssey Spec Analyzer. The project has been riddled with schedule slippage, cost overruns and low overall quality. However, a read of the case study reveals that there was also some major lessons learned and the people and organizations involved were able to adjust on the fly and eventually get things done despite the challenges that arise the very tight deadline that was in place. Indeed, no window to actually use the product would reveal itself or another seven years per the details of the case study. While it would have been better for the program and the people involved to have the lessons learned in advance, they got it right before all was said and done and they will have absorbed and pondered these lessons when the knowledge is needed again in the future.
Analysis
Problem
The overall problems present within this case study and the situation it covered are not hard to figure out. Indeed, the major issues were cost overruns, schedule overruns and quality not being what it should be. However, these are symptoms of what was really going on. What was really going on were contractors that were not working together as they should be, the wrong people being the focal point and power-brokers of getting things done and people being more worried about covering their tail and not getting demoted than getting it out there what was wrong when it was wrong.
Solution
As noted above, there were a few problems but the solutions were eventually figure out, even if they occurred a little later than they could or should have. At a high level, the solution to the problems had in this case study is more frequent, open and honest communication. The specific situations and issues should be addressed as follows:
The contractors and personnel that are used should be committed to doing the job right and on time. The case study makes mention of a NASA official having to pick up the phone so as to get a subcontractor to get moving. This worked as a good solution for this case study but the case study also notes that if a Beta expediter had done the same thing, the response would not have been as brisk and complete. This is not acceptable. If a firm is unable or unwilling to do as required including being on time, having the proper amount of quality and so forth, they should do the right thing and not bid on the project. Instead, a proper solution would be getting the proper buy-in from the right people at this contractor or going to a different contractor
Everyone involved should always act on a professional level. This is a...
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