In May 1996, 11 people died in a blizzard on Mount Everest. They succumbed to hypothermia, altitude sickness, and other conditions at 25,000 feet above sea level. Two expedition teams led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer were caught in a whiteout blizzard with 40 degree below zero temperatures. Both Hall and Fischer and several other climbers from their groups died in the storm. The tragedy was attributed to overconfidence by the expedition leaders, a focus on reaching the summit despite worsening conditions, and an underestimation of the risks of climbing Everest.

1. The 1996 everest tragedy International University of Monaco –MBA 2010-June 10th 2010 Elisabeth Galbois; Harriet Peralta; Debby Tang. BUMA613 Human Factors in Organizations Professor David Ansiau

2. Case Summary May 10, 1996, eleven people died in a snowstorm on Mount Everest. They died at 25000 feet above sea level, numbing of the brain due to thinner air, solar radiation, hypothermia, altitude sickness. The deaths were attributed to a blizzard that plunged temperatures to 40° below zero, causing "white outs"; periods where the snow blows so thickly, it's impossible to see.

3. The situation:Rob Hall Vs. Scott Fisher

4. Among the climbers were: Rob Hall, the leader of the “Adventure Consultants” expedition [Dead] Seaborn Beck Weathers, from Dallas (survived) Mike Groom, a guide for the Hall Expedition Neal Beildman, a guide for the Hall Expediton Andy Harris, a guide in Hall's group [Dead] Yasuko Nanba, an experienced Japanese mountain climber [Dead] Douglas Hansen, a U.S. Postal Service Worker [Dead] Scott Fischer, leader of “mountain madness” expedition [Dead] AnatoliBoukreev, the lead guide on Scott Fischer's team (survived) John Krakauer, writer (survived) Sandy Hill Pitman, a wealthy New York reporter. Tenzing Norgay, a Nepalese (local) climber [Dead]

5. The road… Climbing the mount Everest is the most dangerous challenge Right decisions where Key, but biased for different reasons: Costs Overconfidence Past recent safe weather Climber focus on rationals: Physical current strength concerns Technical knowledge (ropes/knots) Weather blizzard “white outs” Oxygen need Mental motivation/ confidence/ team bonds Two top climbers over-commercialized their expertise and personal achievements around the Everest experience. Two Organizations one same goal: ROUND TRIP TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD… ALIVE! (?) HUMAN FACTOR PROBABLY THE STRONGEST ONE IN THIS BUSINESS

7. Rob Hall and Scott Fischer SWOT Analysis

8. Team SWOT Analysis

9. Recommendations

10. Group Dynamics Create shared values by bringing the team together earlier Divide the team into smaller more manageable teams and leads to easy communication between members Qualify Members Allow co-guides & team members to speak in private allowing a balance of overconfidence thus removing cognitive bias

11. Leadership & Decision Making Set rules on turn around time – Be decisive and balance the decisions Willingly turn around reducing their losses despite their sunk costs Identify and mitigate environmental and psychological stressors Force majeure should not be underestimated to avoid recency effect

12. Thank you for your attention!