Analysis of Business Problems (ABP) scored another high point this weekend with the movie, Eye in the sky. What a way to end ABP, otherwise nicknamed, Advanced Blood Pressure. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie and applying my newly developed critical mind to analyse it. The movie was premised on the revelation of the power of drone technology as a potent weapon of warfare. Furthermore, it explores the ethical and legal issues related to the extent of collateral damage allowed.
The initial mission for the lead actor, Col Powell was to capture and not kill the main target, Susan Danford, and her husband, both UK citizens. Farrah, a Kenyan local was employed to control the beetle drone used for surveillance. The mission changed the moment the beetle revealed that the Al-Shabab terrorists meeting in the room, including Danford and her husband, were planning to send out two suicide bombers into town. Powell was left with no choice but to redefine the motion as a kill and no longer capture one.
It was no easy mission. It came with several complications from bureaucracies to emotional reactions. A group of politicians, members of parliament, and legal and army officials were seated in the COBRA room in the United Kingdom. In that room were mixed feelings and interests. These affected prompt approvals and caused delays for Powell and her team. For instance, the sentiment that Danford and her husband were UK citizens was strong on the debate table. On the other hand, the United States officials were definite about what they wanted and did not hesitate to act decisively. For example, the US officials were clear that once a citizen worked intentionally against national security then they seize to be protected as a US citizen. There was also the emotional rollercoaster experienced by the new officers at Nevada once Alia the little girl selling pita bread appeared in the vicinity of the proposed strike. The dynamics within the team were quite evident and begs the question that how much diversity is too much in a team. It would be inciteful to research this issue.
A few things stood out while analysing this movie.
- The agility of Col Powell. Her ability to take decisive actions once new information becomes available. She also kept communication lines open and took control of the mission.
- The intellectual ability of Farrah, who tactically deceived a little boy to sell his buckets rather than play his supposed computer game. Another instance is his ability to successfully cajole another little boy to buy off all Alia’s bread.
Answering the questions posed by Dr. Anibaba about the movie revealed some psychological traps like Framing bias. Furthermore, my take-home about successful decision-making in high-pressure environments is as written below.
- Time is king.
- Agility is a must
- We must be ready to adapt to changing situations
- Emotional intelligence cannot be overemphasised
- Effective communication is key
- Team must have a clearly defined goal
- Be flexible where necessary
In conclusion, Eye in the Sky is a must-watch. I strongly recommend it for new, existing, and future leaders.
How Not To Apologise