Ambiguous Threat - Publications - Faculty & Research

This case documents decision-making processes, organizational culture, and other contributors to NASA's failed Columbia mission in 2003. Addresses the question of how organizations should deal with "ambiguous threats" - weak signals of potential crisis - and explores... View Details

Keywords: Cognitive Biases; Teams; Organizational Learning; Ambiguous Threat; Leadership; Organizational Culture; Decision Making; Failure; Crisis Management; Aerospace Industry

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May 2012
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Columbia's Final Mission (Abridged) (B)

By: Amy C. Edmondson and Kerry Herman

Keywords: Cognitive Biases; Teams; Organizational Learning; Ambiguous Threat; Risk and Uncertainty; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leadership; Corporate Disclosure; Groups and Teams; Decision Making; Organizational Culture; Public Administration Industry; Aerospace Industry

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Research Summary

Professor Hiatt’s research is aimed at discovering how institutional factors can affect sector growth and technology development and adoption by mediating and moderating uncertainty. His work encompasses two related research questions:

1) How can... View Details

14 Feb 2017
Research & Ideas

A Strategy For Steady Leadership in an Unsteady World

The world’s uncertainties can feel like a tsunami washing over your business. Bill George recommends navigating with a compass pointing to your own True North. Source: iStock With the events of 2016—Brexit, the election of Donald Trump, View Details

Keywords: by Bill George

14 Nov 2006
First Look

First Look: November 14, 2006

through 1992. Facing Ambiguous Threats Authors:Michael A.Roberto, Richard M.J. Bohmer, and Amy C. Edmondson. Periodical:Harvard Business Review 84, no. 11 (November 2006) Abstract On February 1, 2003, the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

06 Jun 2005
Research & Ideas

Microsoft vs. Open Source: Who Will Win?

incorporating some aspects of the open source development model, or else be ready to exit. In fact, the model suggests ways in which the likelihood of OSS winning out can be minimized (see below). If, to the contrary, OSS turns out not to be a View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Technology

11 Jul 2006
First Look

First Look: July 11, 2006

sharper national identities. The interwar disintegration of the international economy also led to the national subsidiaries of multinationals taking on strong local identities. Over the past two decades, as the pace of globalization quickened, View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

03 May 2011
First Look

First Look: May 3

article: http://hbr.org/2011/05/managing-yourself-extreme-productivity/ar/1 Working PapersSustainable Cities: Oxymoron or the Shape of the Future? Authors:Annissa Alusi, Robert G. Eccles, Amy C. Edmondson, and Tiona Zuzul Abstract Two trends are likely to define the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

21 Jul 2009
First Look

First Look: July 21

Mortgage Backed Security (CMBS) Loan, which involves multiple parties, ambiguous relationships, and bifurcated responsibilities. Purchase this case: http://hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=209154 Cincinnati Children's... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

26 Oct 2009
Lessons from the Classroom

The New Deal: Negotiauctions

perfectly pinned down, which creates both opportunities and challenges. Sophisticated dealmakers are able to take advantage of the ambiguity to shape the game to their advantage. Q: How do sophisticated dealmakers shape the game to their... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna

07 Aug 2012
First Look

First Look: August 7

other contributors to NASA's failed Columbia mission in 2003. Addresses the question of how organizations should deal with "ambiguous threats"-weak signals of potential crisis-and explores why ambiguous View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

26 Feb 2008
First Look

First Look: February 26, 2008

performance. Download the paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/07-051.pdf Reputation When Threats and Transfers Are Available Authors:Ernesto Dal Bo, Pedro Dal Bo, and Rafael Di Tella Periodical:Journal of Economics and Management... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

25 Mar 2014
First Look

First Look: March 25

ambiguity of profits and power, as well as the often-jealous interactions between different solutions to the problem of empire. The book presents a powerful mosaic of imperial theories and practices contributing to the creation of the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

06 Mar 2018
First Look

First Look at Research and Ideas, March 6, 2018

the individual is ambiguously or unambiguously successful. Then, in a field experiment set in an entrepreneurial pitch competition, where pride displays are common and stakes are high, we find suggestive evidence that learning about the... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

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Facing Ambiguous Threats

The Recovery Window: Organizational Learning Following Ambiguous Threats

Organizational Learning in the Face of Ambiguous Threats

Organizational Learning in the Face of Ambiguous Threats

The Recovery Window: Organizational Learning Following Ambiguous Threats in High-Risk Organizations

Columbia's Final Mission (Abridged) (A)

Columbia's Final Mission (Abridged) (B)

A Strategy For Steady Leadership in an Unsteady World

First Look: November 14, 2006

Microsoft vs. Open Source: Who Will Win?

First Look: July 11, 2006

First Look: May 3

First Look: July 21

The New Deal: Negotiauctions

First Look: August 7

First Look: February 26, 2008

First Look: March 25

First Look at Research and Ideas, March 6, 2018

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