XVIII.++Credibility+Matrix

 XVIII. Plot the leadership of the 918th appropriately on the Credibility Matrix.

"Credibility can be defined as the ability to engender trust in others" (356). The two major components of credibility are expertise and trust. Expertise is built through improving technical competence as well as organizational and industry knowledge and skills (356). Trust can be understood as the communication and clarification of values in addition to the building of relationships (357). The leaders of the 918th each had a different level of credibility.

Credibility Matrix =



Leadership = General Savage (High Expertise - 5, Low Trust - 1) / (High Expertise - 5, High Trust - 5) Savage underwent a transformation during the film. At the very beginning he was ordered to replace Davenport as commanding officer of the 918th and as he came into the new role, he falls into the second quadrant of high expertise, low trust. As he was new to the position, lacked the relationships with the men that Davenport had. However, as the film progresses, his trust began to increase due to the development of relationships, clear communication and expectations, and excellent results that turn the bomb group around. As his trust level rose, he moved into the first quadrant of high expertise, high trust.

Lt. Co. Ben Gately (High Expertise - 4, Low Trust - 1) Gately is not a major part of the leadership at the beginning of the film as he disappears off base before Savage arrives earning him an arrest and demotion to a bomber named the Leper Colony. As aircraft commander of the under performing Leper Colony, Gately falls into quadrant two of the credibility matrix as he is very well educated as a graduate of West Point and he has expertise, but he is new to the group of men he is responsible for and they do not have any realtionships established. This changes later as the under performing group soon rises to the level of the other aircraft and soon there is no need for the Leper Colony.

Col. Davenport (High Expertise - 4, High Trust - 5) Davenport had the trust of the men and the expertise to run the bomb group but was not able to produce results. His placement in the credibility matrix is in the first quadrant of high expertise and high trust. His status among the men is evidenced by the close relationships he had with them while he was in charge. Once removed from the position of commanding officer, his former men are upset to the point of being vocal during their first meeting with their new commanding officer, Savage.

Am I missing anyone else? General Pritchard?