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Challenger: Fine‐Tuning The Odds Until Something Breaks

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  • William H. Starbuck
  • Frances J. Milliken

Abstract

The Challenger disaster illustrates the effects of repeated successes, gradual acclimatization, and the differing responsibilities of engineers and managers. Past successes and acclimatization alter decision‐makers’ beliefs about probabilities of future success. Fine‐tuning processes result from engineers’ and managers’ pursuing partially inconsistent goals while trying to learn from their experiences. Fine‐tuning reduces probabilities of success, and it continues until a serious failure occurs.

Suggested Citation

  • William H. Starbuck & Frances J. Milliken, 1988. "Challenger: Fine‐Tuning The Odds Until Something Breaks," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 319-340, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:25:y:1988:i:4:p:319-340
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1988.tb00040.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiang, Fuming & Travaglione, Tony & Liu, Li Xian & Li, Jizhong, 2021. "When does the global mindset affect headquarters–subsidiary relationships?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 523-542.
    2. Pina e Cunha, Miguel & Rego, Arménio & Clegg, Stewart & Lindsay, Greg, 2015. "The dialectics of serendipity," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 9-18.
    3. Bozeman, Barry, 2011. "The 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill: Implications for theory of organizational disaster," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 244-252.
    4. Philippe Baumard, 1996. "Organizations in the Fog: An Investigation into the Dynamics of Knowledge," Post-Print hal-03230959, HAL.
    5. Junko Shimazoe & Richard M. Burton, 2013. "Justification shift and uncertainty: why are low-probability near misses underrated against organizational routines?," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 78-100, March.
    6. Caron Chess & Alex Saville & Michal Tamuz & Michael Greenberg, 1992. "The Organizational Links Between Risk Communication and Risk Management: The Case of Sybron Chemicals Inc," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(3), pages 431-438, September.
    7. Annosi, Maria Carmela & Martini, Antonella & Brunetta, Federica & Marchegiani, Lucia, 2020. "Learning in an agile setting: A multilevel research study on the evolution of organizational routines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 554-566.
    8. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4638 is not listed on IDEAS

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