Willful Blindness at SynapGlobal: A Preventable Tragedy
Case number:
A05-24-0022
Abstract
This case provides a dramatic lens for examining the evolution of a crisis as fed by willful blindness (Heffernan, 2011). Organizational barriers impede grasping, acknowledging, and containing internal danger, despite vivid warning signals. As existential threats grow, a deadly thread weaves among individual and team shortcomings, impeding communication and decision-making. Action and inaction by SynapGlobal’s leaders cause missed opportunities and extraordinary loss, for which manifestations of willful blindness, such as underestimation of threats, fears of conflict and consequences, cultural blind spots, and siloed communication are dominant contributing factors.
Teaching
Postgraduate; executive education.
Students will learn:
1. To examine contributions of the concept of willful blindness as an enhancement to crisis management insights, preparation, and response.
2. To understand impacts of organizational culture on decision-making and action when danger looms.
3. To consider potential misalignment of personal responsibility and systemic expectations in complex circumstances.
4. To explore how shortcomings in crisis management at the local level can foreshadow grave challenges to instilling and improving organizational crisis preparation globally.
Students will learn:
1. To examine contributions of the concept of willful blindness as an enhancement to crisis management insights, preparation, and response.
2. To understand impacts of organizational culture on decision-making and action when danger looms.
3. To consider potential misalignment of personal responsibility and systemic expectations in complex circumstances.
4. To explore how shortcomings in crisis management at the local level can foreshadow grave challenges to instilling and improving organizational crisis preparation globally.
Case number:
A05-24-0022
Year:
Setting:
Undisclosed
Length:
3 pages
Source:
General Experience
