Like a Phoenix from the Ashes: Management Control and Organizational Resilience During NASA's Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs

Abstract

This study draws on archival sources to investigate the ways in which management control may contribute to and support organizational resilience by analyzing crises from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Apollo (1961–1972) and Space Shuttle (1972–2011) programs. Both programs suffered significant events with tragic consequences. A fire killed three astronauts during a launch rehearsal test of Apollo 1. During the Space Shuttle program, the Challenger broke apart shortly after launch, and the Columbia disintegrated upon re‐entering Earth's atmosphere; both tragedies resulted in the death of all seven crew members. NASA's recovery from the three disasters and subsequent achievements exemplifies organizational resilience. This study analyzes and discusses how management control contributed to such efforts, which enabled the space programs to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of crises which could have very well led to the abandonment of the United States’ spacefaring endeavours.