Analysis of Boeing Human Resource Management Decision Support System

This report analyzes the Boeing Company's human resource management challenges, particularly in light of the recent 737 Max crashes. It identifies the need for a Decision Support System (DSS) to address issues related to pilot training, software malfunctions, and data analysis. The report outlines the types of data needed, including historical flight data and information from satellite networks like Aireon, to assess the causes of the crashes. It discusses potential data validity issues and methods to ensure data quality, emphasizing the importance of historical data to understand the evolution of technology. External factors such as compliance requirements, industrial standards, and government regulations, including FAA certifications, are considered. The report concludes with recommendations for improving human resource practices, pilot training, and the integration of the upgraded pilot software assistance to prevent future incidents, advocating for a proactive approach to data-driven decision-making within Boeing's HR department.

Running head: DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS 1
Decision Support Systems: Boeing Human Resource Management Perspective
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS 2
Boeing Human Resource Management Perspective
Introduction
Human resource management plays a critical aspect that contribute to the bottom line of
the airline industry. Indeed for each dollar that a customer spends is battled for by many airline
corporations. Therefore, human resource management significance are two-fold and when
handled well, human resource creates a more effective company with more satisfied workforce
that seek to serve the prospect clients with a lot of efficiency and friendliness (Wendel, 2019).
However, in the case of Boeing Company, this has not been the case in the past few months. In
the recent past Boeing has registered approximately $28 billion drop in stock as a result of the
two most recent crashes of its 737 Max that left hundreds of people dead. The two recent crashes
have resulted in Boeing human resource team being criticized for failing to train its pilots and not
being ready to adapt the rumors regarding the 737 Max defaults when the pilots were testing the
real effects of the planes before these crashes (Peng, 2019). In this regard, this paper will discuss
ways that the human resource management should put in place in attempt to resolve the problem
of Boeing’s plane crashes.
Type of data needed to frame/analyze the business problem
To analyze the problem of Boeing 737 Max recent crashes the company need to analyze
the data kept in check by the global satellite network. Aireon Company uses a network of
satellites to offer first real-time flight data that monitors airlines across the globe. According to
the analysis provided by Aireon it was found that Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines
flight 302 were sharing the same flight profile before they crashed. This is a confirmation that
defective pilot assistance software which is suspected for causing the first crash could also have

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been the perpetrator that cased the Ethiopian Airlines crash (Bibel & Hedges, 2018). Before the
grounding of Boeing airlines this was the software that was still in use by the cockpits that
ferried thousands of passengers. Historical data also shows that the 737 Max was launched in
2017 was designed to upgrade the efficiency and range of Boeing’s well-known single aisle jet
that never started from scratch. Consequently, the data provided by Aireon Company reveals a
lack of commitment by Boeing Company human resource management. Human resource
management is the main asset of any successful company but its reluctance could result in
closure of the business just like a failure in Boeing HR part has led to its grounding.
Issues that might be there with validity of data
The validity data regarding the accidents of Boeing 737 Max can be verified by Aireon
Company. The company will provide data about the cause of the two accidents caused by Boeing
737 Max because it has facilities that monitor and track worldwide aircrafts using satellite-based
receivers for international air traffic surveillance. Therefore, Aireon Company would provide
valid data about the cause of the two plane crashes.
How to determine collected/ analyzed data meet useful characteristics information
To determine that the collected data and analyzed data meet useful characteristic
information further investigation should be undertaken in regard to the two crashes to find out if
the pilot assistance software was indeed faulty. The collected data is useful because it provides a
history regarding the process that was used by Boeing to upgrade its 737 Max without changing
its completely but only adding new engine (Merrin, 2016). The emerging pictures from the two
accidents shows that the software failed due to malfunctioning of the mechanical sensors that it
depended on.

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The data need to be historical because new technology is built on old technology by only
advancing on the gaps that the older technology failed to consider through experience.
External factors that come into play
The external factors that comes into play in this context include compliance
requirements, industrial standards and government laws. While the pilot assistance software can
easily be blamed in this two accidents, the training as well as user experience of the persons in
the cockpits was not sufficient. It is evident that pilots never had enough training to comprehend
how MCAS operated. Certainly minimizing training and cockpit changes is Boeing’s economic
decision because the upgraded plane could not have been much fascinating to prospect customers
of Boeing did not want to expend on training hours of its pilots (Calatayud, 2017). In this case, it
means that FAA’s decision to certify Boeing’s training as safe is to be questioned and the
American government laws that allowed the safe deployment of the aviation technology.
In regard to Boeing’s current condition it need to recruit better human resource and
provide appropriate training for its pilots on the upgraded pilot software assistance to avoid
similar experiences in future.

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References
Bibel, G., & Hedges, C. R. (2018). Plane Crash: The Forensics of Aviation Disasters. JHU
Press: Maryland.
Calatayud, A. (2017). The connected supply chain: enhancing risk management in a changing
world. Inter-American Development Bank.
https://publications.iadb.org/en/handle/11319/8204
Merrin, S. (2016). The Power of Positive Destruction: How to Turn a Business Idea into a
Revolution. John Wiley & Sons.
Peng, G. (2019). Computerizability, Consequence of Error, and Job Automation.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2019/org_transformation_is/org_transformation_is/7/
Wendel, W. B. (2019). Technological Solutions to Human Error and How They Can Kill You:
Understanding the Boeing 737-Max Products Liability Litigation. Available at SSRN
3430664. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3430664