The downfall of Southwest Airlines and management lessons for defense
Here’s a viral Facebook post from 35-year Southwest Airlines pilot Larry Lonero: Herb Kelleher was the brilliant CEO of SWA until 2004. He was a […]
boeing
What are some of the fears contracting officers have that prevent speed?
As we wrap up out highlights from the Government Contracting Pricing Summit, here’s a couple good parts from an address made by David Cade, Vice […]
NASA’s administrator says cost-plus is a “plague,” just as DoD is giving up on fixed-price development
Here’s an article about NASA’s administrator Bill Nelson in ArsTechnica, NASA chief says cost-plus contracts are a “plague” on the space agency. Nelson was asked […]
Defense industry financial performance during COVID-19, third quarter update
Government contractors were not immune to the economic disruption brought on by COVID-19. There are more than 50,000 contractors doing business directly with the Department […]
Are Boeing’s engineering woes due to financialization?
For about 80 years, Boeing basically functioned as an association of engineers. Its executives held patents, designed wings, spoke the language of engineering and safety […]
We can have competition in the most expensive weapons
I think it is terribly important, that the Department of Defense always have the option to buy something else… they should keep their options open… […]
Few defense firms closed due to Covid-19, and more industry impacts
Defense Contract Management Agency data shows that about 106 out of 10,509 primary Pentagon contractors are closed. 68 companies have closed but subsequently reopened. On […]
The disease of restricting competition isn’t limited to Europe
I have been repeatedly impressed in putting this paper together by how often unexpected and great discoveries and progress came about during or as the […]
The commercial aircraft duopoly
Airbus and Boeing operate a roughly equal duopoly in the market for single-aisle jets that Airbus values at $3.5 trillion over 20 years. Neither […]
The astronomical cost of winning contracts
It’s hard to believe that Boeing was a long-shot to win an aircraft program, but it appears that there were 6 other competitors at some level. What I find interesting is the coincidence of Boeing having both the lowest price and the only clean-sheet design. Optimism, perhaps?