The Vasa Failure
Question 5
Was this truly a disaster? What lessons can be learned from this case and similar disasters, particularly regarding the importance of such “human factors” as courage, truthfulness, and open communication?
The Vasa was built as a symbol of Sweden’s naval supremacy. Unequalled in size, ornamentation and firepower, the Vasa was intended to project might and to intimidate the nation’s enemies. Of course, the reality of Sweden’s many conquests in the Baltic region was not lost on its enemies. Further, the Vasa was a source of immense national pride. The first of its kind in any navy and by any country, it seemed a triumph of engineering and the nation’s technological prowess. Beyond the projection of unmatched force and national pride, however, the Vasa had more practical value. As the navy’s flagship vessel, it would be employed in the interest of national defense, to transport military personnel and supplies as it waged war, and to apply force in collecting revenues. Moreover, the speed of its construction was occasioned by the loss of ships during combat. This led to demands by the king to have the Vasa and other ships completed far ahead of schedule. The fine prototype seen by a gushing public on the day of its inaugural voyage masked serious design and engineering flaws. It sailed a mere 1400 yards before it …show more content…
In order to succeed in a project, team members and the project manager must be truthful in all actions and communications. Information at all stages of the project’s progress must always be accurate even if it less than desirable, and especially when there are significant risks to the public (Heldman, 2013). Truthfulness also relates to how problems are minimized as in the case of the Vasa project when Admiral Flemming discounted the obvious design and engineering flaws during the testing stage with his response that “the shipbuilder has built ships
Was this truly a disaster? What lessons can be learned from this case and similar disasters, particularly regarding the importance of such “human factors” as courage, truthfulness, and open communication?
The Vasa was built as a symbol of Sweden’s naval supremacy. Unequalled in size, ornamentation and firepower, the Vasa was intended to project might and to intimidate the nation’s enemies. Of course, the reality of Sweden’s many conquests in the Baltic region was not lost on its enemies. Further, the Vasa was a source of immense national pride. The first of its kind in any navy and by any country, it seemed a triumph of engineering and the nation’s technological prowess. Beyond the projection of unmatched force and national pride, however, the Vasa had more practical value. As the navy’s flagship vessel, it would be employed in the interest of national defense, to transport military personnel and supplies as it waged war, and to apply force in collecting revenues. Moreover, the speed of its construction was occasioned by the loss of ships during combat. This led to demands by the king to have the Vasa and other ships completed far ahead of schedule. The fine prototype seen by a gushing public on the day of its inaugural voyage masked serious design and engineering flaws. It sailed a mere 1400 yards before it …show more content…
In order to succeed in a project, team members and the project manager must be truthful in all actions and communications. Information at all stages of the project’s progress must always be accurate even if it less than desirable, and especially when there are significant risks to the public (Heldman, 2013). Truthfulness also relates to how problems are minimized as in the case of the Vasa project when Admiral Flemming discounted the obvious design and engineering flaws during the testing stage with his response that “the shipbuilder has built ships