AN APPLICATION OF THE PERSON-SITUATION INTERACTIONIST MODEL OF ETHICAL DECISION MAKING TO NASA DECISION MAKING

摘要

It was 81.7 seconds into the picture perfect launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia when a 1.7 pound piece of foam separated from the external fuel tank and struck the left wing of Columbia at 545 miles per hour, thereby setting the stage for a series of decisions that contributed to the loss of the Shuttle and seven astronauts A NASA engineer’s decision not to send a warning email expressing concern for Columbia’s safety is analyzed in the context of the Person-Situation Interactionist Model. This paper reviews the interaction of variables, including psychological underpinnings, leading to his decision and highlights the ethical responsibility of individuals and management in decision-making.