The main lesson to be drawn from the delays to the launch of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is that,when developing complex products that embody diverse new technologies:
A)It is best to do it in-house without heavy reliance on external suppliers
B)Extensive outsourcing is inevitable as no single company has sufficient technological capabilities in-house
C)The principal firm must possess well-developed integration capabilities
D)A competitor such as Airbus Industrie which began as an alliance among a number of separate companies will always have an advantage.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The delays in the launch of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner were mainly caused by breakdowns in the coordination between the various external suppliers involved in the development of the aircraft, and not because of outsourcing itself. Therefore, the principal firm must possess well-developed integration capabilities to ensure different technologies fit together seamlessly. Doing it in-house without external suppliers (A) may limit the range of technologies and expertise available, and extensive outsourcing is not necessarily a problem (B) as long as good coordination is ensured. There is no evidence to suggest that a competitor such as Airbus Industrie will always have an advantage (D).

The Main Lesson to Be Drawn from the Delays to the Launch