CSE 475 – Ethical and Professional Issues in Computer Science & Engineering

Professor Kevin W. Bowyer

Essay One – Parallels in the Challenger and Columbia Tragedies.

The goal of this assignment is to gain some understanding of individual and organizational personalities and how they interact in decision-making difficult and high-risk situations. First, summarize the individual and organizational roles that led to the Challenger tragedy. Second, summarize the individual and organizational roles that led to the Columbia tragedy. Third, make your case for whatever similarities or parallels you feel do or don’t exist between the two situations. Fourth, make your case for whatever changes in individual or organizational ethical and professional standards that you feel would allow NASA to avoid a third such tragedy in the future.

Your paper should be about six pages in length, not including bibliography and cover page. A “page” with normal fonts, margins, and double-spacing is in the range of 250 to 300 words. Write your paper early enough that you do not find yourself turning what is basically a rough draft. You should not have typos and grammar problems in your paper. Ideally, your paper should demonstrate a basic understanding of the causes of both tragedies, and a well-founded idea for how to avoid them in the future. Papers will be graded on content and style.