Mann Gulch
Case Study – The Mann Gulch Disaster
Case Study – The Mann Gulch Disaster
Conceptual blocks are defined as “mental obstacles that constrain the way problems are defined” and they “limit the number of alternative solutions people think about.” (Whetten and Cameron, 2013, p. 183) Everyone experiences conceptual blocks and the smokejumpers were no different.
1. The smokejumpers experienced the conceptual block known as commitment when they were asked to “drop their tools” (p.210) and “lie down in a burned area.” (p. 210) The conceptual block of commitment is experienced because the smokejumpers are “committed to a particular point of view” (p. 188) by using tools and being active firefighters and asking them to refrain from doing so would keep them from following through on their personal commitment to being a firefighter.
The smoke jumpers also experience the conceptual block of complacency because of the “fear… and insecurity” (p. 192) of the situation. When Dodge lit a fire and ordered them to “lie down in the area that had burned” (p. 210), they all ran for the ridge. Their fear and insecurity of what was to come caused them to panic and not trust the orders given by Dodge.
2. The second step in analytical problem solving was short circuited because they did not generate alternative solutions. (p. 175) Because Dodge was the only one who saw that the fire had crossed the gulch and he did not share that information, the others were not able to share any alternative solutions to maintaining the fire. Because other alternatives were not discussed, step 3 “Evaluate and select an alternative” (p. 175) was skipped entirely. In addition, step 4 “Implement and follow up on the solution” was also skipped. Dodge should have relayed the information to everyone but instead, it caused a total breakdown in the steps of problem solving.
3. Problem solving and decision making processes change under time pressures and crisis tremendously. With the
Case Study – The Mann Gulch Disaster
Conceptual blocks are defined as “mental obstacles that constrain the way problems are defined” and they “limit the number of alternative solutions people think about.” (Whetten and Cameron, 2013, p. 183) Everyone experiences conceptual blocks and the smokejumpers were no different.
1. The smokejumpers experienced the conceptual block known as commitment when they were asked to “drop their tools” (p.210) and “lie down in a burned area.” (p. 210) The conceptual block of commitment is experienced because the smokejumpers are “committed to a particular point of view” (p. 188) by using tools and being active firefighters and asking them to refrain from doing so would keep them from following through on their personal commitment to being a firefighter.
The smoke jumpers also experience the conceptual block of complacency because of the “fear… and insecurity” (p. 192) of the situation. When Dodge lit a fire and ordered them to “lie down in the area that had burned” (p. 210), they all ran for the ridge. Their fear and insecurity of what was to come caused them to panic and not trust the orders given by Dodge.
2. The second step in analytical problem solving was short circuited because they did not generate alternative solutions. (p. 175) Because Dodge was the only one who saw that the fire had crossed the gulch and he did not share that information, the others were not able to share any alternative solutions to maintaining the fire. Because other alternatives were not discussed, step 3 “Evaluate and select an alternative” (p. 175) was skipped entirely. In addition, step 4 “Implement and follow up on the solution” was also skipped. Dodge should have relayed the information to everyone but instead, it caused a total breakdown in the steps of problem solving.
3. Problem solving and decision making processes change under time pressures and crisis tremendously. With the