The Need for Organisational Resilience Chapter-6

Other events at Boeing, as unpredictable as they might be, had a knock-on effect on their

suppliers. Because of Boeing’s aim to outsource 70 per cent of its work, the labour force of

25,000 employees launched a strike in September 2008. In the light of potential delays or

cancellations of orders, key suppliers reduced their work schedule, and thus reduced the

availability of key parts to the 787. The impact of the strike could not have been predicted, but

key suppliers started to protect their own interests: not producing any stock that may remain in

their own inventory for too long. Unfortunately, although key suppliers reduced their output

relatively quickly in anticipation of delays or cancellation, they could not compensate for an

unexpected increase in demand in the same speedy manner, as freed up work capacities had

already been rerouted to other clients.

Such limitations at Boeing in forecasting exactly what was needed were just as prevalent 70

years ago (see following textbox).

[Text Box starts]: The Africa Campaign

In September 1940, the Italians, part of the Axis forces, launched an attack on the British (and

Commonwealth forces) who were stationed in Egypt. Their numerical superiority did little to impress

their enemy. On December 9 th , the British launched a counteroffensive during operation Compass.

Encouraged by initial successes they pressed on, pushing the Italians back into Libya. They risked

being comprehensively defeated. They soon captured the fortified port of Tobruk. A reconnaissance in

force outflanked the Italians in the desert and cut off their retreat. The Italian Tenth Army ferociously

tried to break out at the battle of Beda Fomn, but to no avail. It subsequently surrendered, with

130,000 prisoners of war.

To support one of his key allies, Hitler formed an expeditionary force, later to be christened the

Afrika Corps under the command of Erwin Rommel. He was initially put in charge of a ‘blocking force’

designed to stop the British from advancing further into Libya. Once arrived in Libya, the Africa Corps

did not stand still but launched offensive actions against the Commonwealth troops. By the end of

April 1941, they pushed the British back into Egypt, where Rommel took a defensive stand as his

forces were considered not strong enough to capture Tobruk, a strategically important port.

The Allies soon launched a series of counter-attacks and a disastrous counteroffensive,

Operation Battleaxe. It took place on the Egyptian-Libyan border. The passage the Allies had to take

22 | P a g e