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Resilience and precarious success

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  • Patterson, Mary D
  • Wears, Robert L

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical case study to illustrate, corroborate, and perhaps extend some key generalizations about resilient performance in complex adaptive systems. The setting is a pediatric hematology/oncology pharmacy, a complex system embedded in the larger complex of the hospital, which provides chemotherapy and other high risk medications to children with cancer, sickle cell disease and autoimmune disorders. Recently the demands placed on this system have dramatically intensified while the resources allocated to the system have remained static. We describe the adaptations of this system in response to this additional stress. In addition, we discuss the risks associated with miscalibration about the system׳s adaptive capacity, and the tradeoff between the need to invest in adaptive capacity (to sustain performance when the system is stressed) versus the need to invest in efficient production (to sustain performance under normal circumstances and economic pressures).

Suggested Citation

  • Patterson, Mary D & Wears, Robert L, 2015. "Resilience and precarious success," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 45-53.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:141:y:2015:i:c:p:45-53
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2015.03.014
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    Cited by:

    1. Lucian Ispas & Costel Mironeasa & Alessandro Silvestri, 2023. "Risk-Based Approach in the Implementation of Integrated Management Systems: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Jie Zhang & Yifan Zhu & Tao Wang & Weiping Wang & Rui Wang & Xiaobo Li, 2022. "An Improved Intelligent Auction Mechanism for Emergency Material Delivery," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(13), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Righi, Angela Weber & Saurin, Tarcisio Abreu & Wachs, Priscila, 2015. "A systematic literature review of resilience engineering: Research areas and a research agenda proposal," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 142-152.
    4. Tran, Huy T. & Balchanos, Michael & Domerçant, Jean Charles & Mavris, Dimitri N., 2017. "A framework for the quantitative assessment of performance-based system resilience," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 73-84.
    5. David D. Woods, 2018. "The theory of graceful extensibility: basic rules that govern adaptive systems," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 433-457, December.
    6. Aven, Terje, 2016. "Risk assessment and risk management: Review of recent advances on their foundation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 253(1), pages 1-13.
    7. Foster, Craig J. & Plant, Katherine L. & Stanton, Neville A., 2021. "A very temporary operating instruction: Uncovering emergence and adaptation in air traffic control," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).

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