Ineffective Use of Informal Communication Activities: The Collapse of NASA's Decision-making during the Columbia Shuttle Disaster

• In Event: Discursive Practices Involving Events and Places: Competitive Papers in Language and Social Interaction

Abstract

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board identified faulty decision processes that contributed to the catastrophic accident of the Columbia Space Shuttle. One involves the rationale to continue flying the shuttle with a history of debris strikes problems. The second faulty decision process involves the judgment about gathering more evidence about the damage to Columbia. This study identifies a problem at NASA is its inability to respond to and incorporate informal communication processes into formal communication structures.

Authors

• Faye Gothard Mangrum, Southeastern Oklahoma State Univ

• D Lawrence Wieder, University of Oklahoma