12 O Clock HighTheresa Santoscoy and Gayle Stallworth

Reframing the organization of 918 Bomb group.

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“Fear is normal, but stop worrying about it and about yourselves. Stop making plans. Forget about going home. Consider yourself already dead. Once you accept that idea it won’t be so Tough.” General Savage (Twelve O’clock High, 1949).

General Savage’s speech to motivate and connect with the crew.

This speech is General Savage’s first success at changing frames for 918 bomb group.

Framing

Protagonist and Antagonist

General Frank Savage who is played by Gregory Peck is the protagonist, with the main antagonist being the Pilots. The pilots did not believe General Savage appreciated them and were scared to be sent on flights that were to difficult. At a critical point the pilots staged a strike sending out mass requests to transfer. General Savage implemented a Political reframe, used affiliate motivation techniques such as the symbolism of bravery to keep the crew in the 18 bomb group. Savage gained the opportunity to challenge the pilots to concur a challenging mission. No one character was set to destroy the Generals plans, but because organizational change was needed many were not prepared to cooperate on demand (Twelve O’clock High, 1977). )

Theory

Initially, General Frank Savage seemed to be a bull in a china closet, reckless, and all over the place without consideration of or for the value of others. Savage appeared to be heartless, unforgiving and merciless, when in reality he was implementing the structural reframe, requiring proper uniforms to be worn, checking ID’s at the gate, having the men fly in formation. As a leader Savage did not realize how his implementation of change would affect his men and how it would cost low morale and emotional decline as a whole throughout the organization

(Twelve O’clock High, 1977).

The other main frame Salvage used was political. He used and abused his political power and authority to force the men to stay when he learned they all wanted transfers to go home, because of his method of leadership. Both structural and political frames were needed, however how leader choses to go about using various frames can aide in the making or braking of an organization.

(Twelve O’clock High, 1977).

Consultant recommendation:

As consultants we would recommend not only revamping structural and political procedures, but also include the use of the human resource and symbolic frames to increase comradery, consideration, and loyalty to leadership, other airmen and also to their country. The human resource frame needs to be implemented, but with balance, a leader cannot be so involved that they cannot lead or make necessary decisions, but not so far removed that they cannot feel the needs and concerns of the staff to move the organization forward. Col. Keith Davenport was too involved with the men to implement structure or give symbolic value, the reasons they were in Germany for and to impart value and worth in them for who they are and for their service to their country (Twelve O’clock, 1949). (Air Force Consultants, n.d.)

Political and Structural Framing

Political and Structured framing

The organizational theories that most apply to Twelve O’clock High were political and affiliate.

The 918 bomb group was assigned the difficult task of day bombing of specific targets. Most of the crew did not want to do the missions, but were previously lead by a corneal who was not a strong leader, before General Savage was assigned to take over.

The political frame was weak in the organization because the men were relatively close, even one of the pilot abandoned a direct order when a roommate was injured after taking fire. Only General Savage understood that, that was the wrong choice to make.

Another event that proved they operated under a weak political frame was when some of the majors stowed away in the first mission under Savage because he was not initially trusted or respected and again when they stood together as pilots to transfer, striking Savage’s, leadership style.

General Savage brought a structured frame to the organization through enforcing military policies and executing disciplinary actions. His politics were based around the organizational good not individual agenda.

(Twelve O’clock High, 1977).

Political and Structured reframing

In this movie the political, structural, symbolic and human resource frames were all needed to strengthen the organization as a whole. The airmen most definitely needed structure, symbolic and political frames from the start; however because the human resource frame was lacking and out of balance the mission was even more difficult when General Savage took over to an already defeated attitude of the men in battle. The airmen needed support, someone to care about them, and what they were going through on a daily basis. Structure is crucial in war, but one must have a sense of comradery and support from those under their command to have greater successes. Too much discipline and not enough human resources when necessary were lacking. General Savage knew the only way to save face and keep the men under his command was by manipulation of the rules and delayed paperwork; he would not have had any men to fight and lead into a successful battle without it.

ResolutionUltimately, General Savage used political and structure frames to gain success at the movie’s resolution; for the 918 bomb group, as previously mentioned he used politics to prevent the pilots for transferring before the mission was completed. However, structured reframing was the main reform that was highly successful. Near the conclusion of the movie Major Cobb tells Savage his example caused the group to have to mature and succeed. General Savage’s strategy was best because structure is consistent with military organizations demanding all members to work in strategic planning according to rank. To accomplish dangerous and death defying missions, holding more importance to position rather than affiliation forced the members of the 918 bomb group to adhere to orders.

(Resolution Photo, n.d.)

References: Affiliate Frame Photo. (n.d.) Retrieved from:

http://www.wordyisms.com/images/affiliateHeader.jpg. January 15, 2015.

Air Force Consultants. (n.d.) Retrieved from:

http://www.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/100623-F-5099J-001.jpg. January

15, 2015.

Bolman, L. and Deal, T. (2008). Reframing organisations, artistry, choice and leadership.

Retrieved from:

http://www.12manage.com/images/picture_bolman_deal_four_frames.pngJanuary 15, 2015.

Cover photo. (n.d.) Twelve o’clock high. Retrieved from:

https://www.google.com/search?q=twelve+o%27clock+high&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=tVi4VOfDBYGfyATPiILACA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAw&biw=1586&bih=730#imgdii=_&imgrc=9qO5BbRPc0qJoM%253A%3BaQ9BgAR-mFW1pM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fclassicwarmovies.com%252FDVD%252FDVD-2_twelve-o%27clock-high_1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fclassicwarmovies.com%252Ftwelve-oclock.html%3B310%3B452. January 15, 2015.

Resolution Photo. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.perfessorbill.com/misc/sam_12high.jpg.

January 15, 2015.

Smith, H., Patton, J., and Lynch, C. (November 2014). 12 o’clock high. Political Frame.

Retrieved from: https://prezi.com/y_-e-qpjxxh9/12-oclock-high/. January 15, 2015.

Twelve o’clock high 1977 staring Gregory Peck as General Savage, produced by Darryl Zanuck

at Twentieth Century Fox Films Entertainment

Questions?