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APOLLO 13A SUCCESFULL FAILURE

Apollo 13, an Americanhistoricaldocumentary drama film was released in the year 1995.

Directed by Ron Howard, it was a critically acclaimed movie starring Tom Hanks asApollo

13 Commander,Jim Lovell andEd Harris as White teamFlight DirectorGene Kranz in the lead

roles. Among other pertinent roles, noteworthy areBill Paxton as Apollo 13Lunar

Module PilotFred Haise, Kevin Bacon as Apollo 13 backup Command Module Pilot

(CMP) Jack Swigert andGary Sinise as Apollo 13 prime CMPKen Mattingly.

The film depicts astronauts Jim,Jack andFred aboardApollo 13 for America's third Moonlanding mission. En route, an on-board explosion deprives their spacecraft of most of its oxygen

supply and electric power, forcingNASA's flight controllers to abort the Moon landing, and

turning the mission into a struggle to get the three men home safely.

Throughout the film, during the excitement, team building, and merriment and even in crisissituations, we catch glimpses of some behavioral traits which we can strongly classify under

concepts such as:

Leadership Team building Conflict management Quick decision making Power and influence Emotional Intelligence Motivating by challenging Negotiation

ANALYZING JIM LOVELL

Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 shows effective leadership qualities in balance with

changing environment.Hardly two days before launch, Ken Mattingly was predicated to beingexposed tomeasles,and the flight surgeon demanded his replacement with backup,Jack Swigert,

as a safety precaution. Jim resists breaking up his team, but relents after Slayton gives him the

ultimatum of either accepting the switch, or else being bumped to a later mission. Jim himself

then announces the unfortunate event to Ken. The team dynamics here is noticeable as Ken does

not blame Jim for making the switch. As a matter of fact the unity of team members is felt when

Ken accepts the fact that the decision must have been hard for Jim. (clip 20:52- 23:51)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historical_drama_filmshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docudramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Howardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Lovellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Harrishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_controller#Flight_Directorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kranzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Haisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Baconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Command/Service_Modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swigerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Sinisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Mattinglyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swigerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Haisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Haisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubellahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swigerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swigerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubellahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Haisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swigerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Mattinglyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Sinisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Swigerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Command/Service_Modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Baconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Haisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kranzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_controller#Flight_Directorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Harrishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Lovellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Howardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docudramahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historical_drama_films


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he comes forward for his team when he heard about their unfortunate situation without even

thinking twice and plays a very significant role in bringing the craft back home through cognitive

thinking, innovative strategies and decision making.(clip 01:48:1201:50:50)

ANALYZING FRED HAISE AND JACK SWIGERT

Both the characters display appreciative confidence in their work and team building skills in the

most miserable living conditions. When Jack was approached for the replace-position, he did not

show any anticipation but was thrilled to work along with the flight team. He was confident with

his skills and also managed to prove himself till the end. (clip 00:42:5000:43:11)

Fred Haise also maintains group dynamics while running high fever in freezing conditions and

does not let his team down when his involvement is needed. He does not create any problem

when Jack becomes a member of the three person crew. This characterizes him as an efficient

team player.

SOME OTHER PERSPECTIVES

When one of the liquid oxygen tanks explode, emptying its contents into space and soon after

another starts leaking, power source of the craft was compelled to shut down to save enough fuel

for the life boat to return home, i.e back to Earth. This was an abort mission and crumpled

everyones former purpose of landing on the moon. Even after that, the group dynamism that we

get to watch both among the flight crew and the ground crew members is noticeable.(clip

01:15:1001:17:08)The crew involves themselves in an effective decision making process and with the help of a

team of engineers, succeeds in making a difficult but vital course correction by manually igniting

the craftsengine.

We also observe cognitive style of decision making when Ken is seen struggling to find a way to

power up the Command Module with its limited available power, but finally succeed and

transmit the procedures to Jack, who successfully restarts the air craft and prepares for re-entry

into the Earth's atmosphere.

The ground team members play a brilliant example of role of synergy that should exist in a group

decision making process. There was a positive force flowing through the team and new solutions

to problems were stimulated through the process of mutual influence and encouragement within

the group members.(clip 01:20:0501:21:06)


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CONCLUSION

The mission was designated as a successful failure. A failure because it never achieved its

primary objective of landing on the moon and a success because almost every single person who

worked for the NASA, has showed an astounding performance and saved the crew. When the

officer in head asks about the problems they are facing and laments over the situation being theworst disaster NASA's ever experienced, Kens retort says it all With all due respect, sir, I

believe this is going to be our finest hour. And in the end, it indeed was.

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