At our last Analysis of Business Problem class, we reviewed the movie ‘Eye in the Sky’ which featured one of Hollywood’s finest actors, Helen Mirren, acting as Colonel Katherine Powell, the protagonist in the movie. The movie showcased the moral dilemmas surrounding modern warfare and the use of advanced drone technology in the face of making high-pressured decisions on life and death situations.
The movie is focused on a military mission to apprehend terrorists in Kenya, a peaceful country, but the mission was altered as more information became available to all the stakeholders. The mission changed from a ‘”Capture” to a “kill” mission as suicide bombers were going to be activated by the lead terrorists. The “kill” mission was made even more difficult when a young girl entered the kill zone combined with the assessment of the impact of the kill strike on innocent lives, adding a moral and ethical angle to the decision process.
While the movie largely focuses on the military, political, legal, and ethical ramifications of drone attacks in the fight against terrorism, some of the movie’s lessons apply to businesses as well. Businesses occasionally find themselves in high-stress circumstances where quick judgments are required which could make or break the business. This can involve resolving delicate issues that have an impact on the company’s reputation or significant legal challenges that might attract media and public attention. The decision making dilemma that businesses faced in the heat of the COVID-19 outbreak globally, is another example of difficulty faced by companies.
The movie emphasizes the value of having an organized and transparent decision-making process in place. To get everyone on the same page as soon as possible, leaders should define clear roles and responsibilities as well as decision-making criteria. Delays will be reduced as a result, and decisions will be taken quickly and effectively. The chain of command in the movie was convoluted and the complexities in the decision-making process had negative effects on the mission.
The movie also highlights the importance of effective communication and collaboration. Throughout the movie, we see different parties communicating with each other: from the drone pilots communicating with their commanders or the politicians communicating with each other across locations. This is essential for ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that the mission can be executed effectively. For businesses, effective communication and collaboration are critical for success. Leaders should encourage open and honest communication among team members, as well as collaboration across departments and functions. This will help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and that the company can achieve its objectives.
Another key learning is the importance of considering the broader impact of decisions. In the movie, the drone strike was intended to take out a group of high-level terrorists, however the potential collateral damage to innocent civilians was a major concern. The ethical implications of such an action are explored in-depth, and the movie ultimately questions whether the end justifies the means. In business, while there may be a need to clean up the difficult situation and also protect the profitability of the company, the decision most likely would impact not only shareholders but employees, creditors, customers and the community. The impact must be reviewed as quickly as possible to ensure that the company operates in a socially responsible and ethical manner, which could lead to long-term success.
As business leaders, we may be faced with instances when tough and instant decisions are to be made. The requirement to be super clear on the objective and criteria for decision making is necessary. It is also important that leaders are adaptable as more information become available to them as their objectives may need to be modified to reach the final decision. Personal and/or stakeholders’ biases would always present in decision making – these should be identified early and dealt with quickly. Hopefully, the best decision for every situation, is ultimately made.
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