Boeing informed the 8-year old Harry that they didn't accept unsolicited ideas. His dad was upset about the response and he was also an ad agency CEO so he decided to use the internet to let his voice be heard.
Although, I probably wouldn't want to be in a plane in which an 8-year old did the initial drawings, I do agree that the response that Boeing gave him was a little cold. In regards to whether it was the online world putting the corporation in line or a chance to get Harry's dad a little publicity, a good answer would be a little of both.
In my opinion, this is just the direction that things are headed in our society. Web 2.0 is gaining huge popularity because it allows all sorts of people to interact online through the use social networking websites, such as Twitter, and it makes things like blogging easy for anyone. Crowdsourcing is a method to contract out work which has become popular with Web 2.0 features and it is another method which brings people together on a social network, who are willing to perform projects collaboratively. These are very new methods of marketing and outsourcing, so they will definitely attract some controversy.
Despite the cold response, it will still not keep me from flying on Boeing's jetliners. I would much rather fly on one of their current models then Harry's prototype. Not bad I guess...Finally, I see the huge potential for targeted marketing with the use of social media and Web 2.0 features in today's competitive workplace and since a lot of these methods get the job done cheaper than traditional methods of marketing, it seems like a win-win to me.
-Max P.
Max,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the latest levels of web interactivity create an environment where virtually anyone can have the influence that in the past was only accorded to those with a certain level of community, regional, or national status. We see this from blogs to YouTube to Facebook and more.
As for win-win, this incident worked out pretty well for Harry (see Sean Brooks' discussion at http://interactiveandinstant.blogspot.com/2010/09/social-media-round-1-harry-vs-boeing.html) and I'm sure for Harry's father as well. In fact, Boeing in the end probably comes out looking like the sensitive corporation that so many people are demanding these days. So win-win-win?
A thought though: Do we care that our airplane manufacturer cares so much about being warm and fuzzy with kids who send in plane designs? Or would we rather have them focus on their core competency: presumably making safe, efficient, and comfortable plans?
Great post!
Anthony
I completely agree that this is a case where both social media was trying to place a large company into check and for the father to gain some sort of notoriety for his business. It’s definitely true that our society is heading in the direction of Web 2.0 and that massive social media has the potential to garner mass attention to a certain subject or issue. Most individuals today do not even communicate in person or via phone, it is almost completely through the Web. I believe if Boeing had just brushed off the allegations of John Winsor many people would still fly, buy, or whatever Boeing airplanes. It is possible that when Boeing received the project proposal they might have believed it was not a kid and in fact maybe just someone trying to play a joke on the company. Nonetheless, Boeing had to respond somehow and to “save-face” offered the apologies and special perks to Harry for disregarding his initial project proposal.
ReplyDeleteI like the perspective in which you place the situation, true harry was hurt due to the cold response, but it's not going to cost anybody a plane ticket. You are correct as well to assume that Boeing could have perceived that drawing as a joke or somebody just messing with them, i doubt Harry put his age on that drawing. Therefore, in part i believe Harry is lucky to even get a response. Boeing probably receives thousands of correspondence and airplane proposals, if they barely look into the ones that are serious and well structured, why would they look into one that was drawn in crayons?
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, i believe that Boeing in order to be on the safe side and to prevent small incidents like this to continue happening, they should probably create different response templates that are sensible and appropriate to the different individuals that try to reach them. This way Boeing can maintain a good image and continue focusing on their production.
I am sure a a parent is not easy to deal with this kind of issue when it comes to your child's dream, yet he was even lucky to actually get a response from such a big company. This kind of companies do not even have time to respond to this letters when time is money.
ReplyDeleteI also Agree that the father's decision to use social media to try to ruin Boeing reputation is definitely not going to cost the company a plain ticket, yet is the way people complain about things nowadays. Before we use to call the company directly and make the complain, now we do it on twitter or facebook because we now a big amount of people will see our post and we believe that it might make more damage.
Boeings response was cold in nature but I believe they more than made up for their mistakes. They did everything in their power to make Harry happy and used the situation as a learning experience. The power of social networking sites ultimately was the driver for Boeing to make some changes but I don't believe that Harry did use his position as a way of free advertising. His position and knowledge of the social networking world did give him the upper hand but I believe he truely did it for his son. Boeing did a gret job at handling the situation and I would never hold it against them.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Harry's father knew at all about his son's intentions of drawing and mailing the plane drawing. I mean most 8 year old's get their mailing supplies from their parents and need them to drop it off somewhere. And the picture of the drawing shows it still in the sketchbook so I wonder who took the photograph before it was sent. In any case, it really did end up being a win for all parties which is nice to see once in awhile. This case reminds me of when the neistat brothers posted a video called "Ipod's dirty secret" exposing that an ipod battery only lasts 18 months. And thanks to crowdsourcing apple responded in that case too.
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