There’s a Name for What’s Happening at Boeing: Working Capital

Analyzing trends in leadership, management and the art of career building.

Don’t call it a comeback

A year ago, Boeing Co. was literally coming apart at the seams. Now it has a record-breaking aircraft order placed this week by Qatar Airways, a new Pentagon contract ensuring the company’s future as a builder of fighter jets, and a 15% year-to-date gain in its stock price.

While it’s premature to declare a comeback — delivering on all this fresh promise will be no simple feat — clearly something is in the air at Boeing. Gen-Z would call it a vibe shift. Social science offers ...