1. Ensure that students understand what David does and the challenge he wants to solve. They should be able to answer that David and his crew assemble and attach engine struts for the 777 jet airplane for Boeing. Make sure students understand why David might suggest a different way to manufacture the engine struts to make his crew’s work more efficient.
   


2. Ask students what they would do if they were David.

Ask them first what information they might want to have:

• Students may say that they want to know all the pieces in the engine struts that can best be installed after the engines are mounted on the wings.
• They may say that they would want to understand whether temporarily leaving these parts off the engine struts would cause problems in the engine manufacturing process, because they wouldn’t want to propose a new idea that would cause problems.
• They may say they want to know who would be affected by David’s idea to change the manufacturing process.

Now ask students how they would get the information David needs:

• They might talk with other Boeing workers to review the steps in the engine struts manufacturing process.
• They might examine engine specifications that describe how the engine is manufactured and identify the specific parts that could be held aside and installed later.
• They might use their computer to track each individual engine through the manufacturing process to learn where in the process the strut parts are installed.

Then ask students who they think will be affected by David’s idea to change the manufacturing process. How will those people feel about what David is doing?

• They might answer that David’s crew will be affected. They will probably welcome a new way to do their job that makes it more efficient.
• Students might answer that people at the Wichita factory that have something to do with the strut parts might be affected. They will probably be willing to change their processes to make the entire process more efficient, but they will want to be assured that David’s idea won’t cause them any problems and won’t make their work more difficult.

Now ask students what they think David should do. Note their answers on the blackboard and ask for student feedback about each idea. Do students think it would work?

Next, give students the following in-class writing assignment.