As a leader in the aerospace industry The Boeing Company is a leading maker of commercial and military airplanes, satellites, and missiles. Business planning at The Boeing Company is a very complicated process because it is influenced by internal and external factors that can involve legal and ethical issues, while maintaining corporate and social responsibilities. Factors such as economic conditions, laws, and competition directly influence the strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning. Boeing has been able to maintain success for many years due to their strong ethics and planning abilities.
The planning process can be complicated by legal issues, which can put the company in an awkward position. In 2000, 38 women filed a class action in Seattle against The Boeing Company for pay discrimination (Business Week, 2004). Even though there was clear evidence that pay differential existed, the company was slow in handing over the documents to the plaintiffs attorneys. In 2004 The Boeing Company settled out of court and saved itself from public humiliation. In this situation, it was best for Boeing to settle because it would resonate better with consumers, its employees, and the public in general.
Boeing is a company that is respected for its corporate and social responsibility. Boeing joined the Foundation for Corporate responsibility which encourages companies to get involved in philanthropic efforts and promoting ethics in business (FCSR, 2008). Boeing has been involved in sponsoring corporate events such as Seafair which is an annual summer event in Seattle, which Boeing has sponsored since its inception in 1951. This event attracts more than 1.5 million spectators for the hydroplane/air show (Boeing, 2008). Boeing has diversified its philanthro ...