Despite being warned of danger, NASA scientists proceeded with the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, which subsequently exploded, killing all onboard. Sociological analysis of this situation finds it was caused by
A) a lack of communication.
B) a combination of risky shift and organizational ritualism.
C) organizational alienation.
D) delayed communication and lengthy decision-making processes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The combination of risky shift and organizational ritualism led to the decision to proceed with the launch despite warnings of danger. Risky shift refers to the tendency for group decisions to be riskier than individual decisions, while organizational ritualism refers to the adherence to established rules and procedures without questioning their effectiveness. In this case, the NASA scientists fell victim to both of these phenomena.

Despite Being Warned of Danger, NASA Scientists Proceeded with the 1986