Boeing HQ
The major reporting on Boeing over the weekend focused on what new management will do to turn around the company and advice on what to do as journalists and professors become management experts. Of course, every minor incident, from an old 727 striking an old MD-80 in a minor collision in Africa to turbulence grounding a United Airlines flight at New York’s Stuart airport, even though the only thing Boeing about the incidents is the manufacturer’s name. I’ve also included some editorial cartoons, three of which deal with Boeing (the rest are political), that illustrate how Boeing has fallen from a respected company to the butt of jokes.
Here are links to today’s key stories:
- Boeing boss bows to the inevitable – Irish Times
- Boeing’s management shakeup is a powerful lesson in what leaders should never, ever do – Inc.
- Editorial cartoons for March 31, 2024 – Syracuse.com
- You don’t need to freak out about Boeing planes (but Boeing sure does) – New York Times
- American Opinion – Boeing’s bosses leave, scrutiny must continue – Grand Forks Herald
- Postscript: Declan Kelly’s special adviser gets Boeing gig – Business Post
- Boeing top official Stephanie Pope makes big statement – GeoNews
- Suicide Mission – The American Prospect
- Boeing needs a radical board shake-up to regain its altitude – Mint
One of the longer pieces deals with Boeing whistleblowers and its culture toward them, which is not particularly flattering to Boeing. From advice to freak out about airplanes to a radical board shake-up, editorial advice for the company seems to be everywhere these days.
The Bottom Line
Since the two 737MAX crashes five years ago, Boeing has continued to be in a tailspin. The current management team and Board have been ineffective in producing meaningful change, and the latest major incident in January increased the pressure and effectively forced key resignations. However, those resignations aren’t all immediate, and David Calhoun, with whom airlines have lost trust, remains in the CEO role, potentially until the end of the year. The question now is whether Boeing can afford to wait that long to replace Calhoun and bring in an outsider to change a flawed corporate culture.
The good news is that regulators and customers are ready to step in to help solve the problem, even if it means forcing Boeing into actions that the company has been unwilling to take. The slow production rate of the 737 MAX is impacting customers, but those customers would prefer high-quality airplanes, which the FAA will mandate. Change is coming to Boeing in 2024, whether the company likes it or doesn’t.
