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Benefits of systems thinking for a human and organizational factors approach to safety management

Author

Listed:
  • Jean-François Vautier

    (CEA - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, AFSCET - Association Française de Science des Systèmes - AFSCET, INSTN - Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires - CEA - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Nicolas Dechy

    (IRSN - Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire)

  • Thierry Coye de Brunélis

    (THALES [France])

  • Diana Paola Moreno Alarcon

    (CEA - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CRC - Centre de recherche sur les Risques et les Crises - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres)

  • Guillaume Hernandez

    (CEA - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)

  • Richard Launay

    (CEA - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)

Abstract

This paper highlights the value of systems theory and its application to human and organizational factors (HOF). HOF specialists consider multiple systems characteristics in their analyses but are often unaware of the relevant theory applied in their analysis. We argue that a structured effort to take key systems characteristics into account in HOF practice would increase the depth and breadth of safety management analyses and help HOF specialists to act more effectively on industrial socio-technical systems. First, the paper identifies the following seven system theory characteristics: constitution, multi-axis representation, limit, emergence, variety, coherence, and causal interaction, which are then illustrated with examples from the HOF field. Finally, we discuss the two main benefits of integrating system thinking in a HOF approach to safety management: (1) an improved understanding of the inner workings of an industrial socio-technical system; and (2) a compendium or a reference to guide for decision-making and the implementation of actions within the industrial socio-technical systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-François Vautier & Nicolas Dechy & Thierry Coye de Brunélis & Diana Paola Moreno Alarcon & Guillaume Hernandez & Richard Launay, 2018. "Benefits of systems thinking for a human and organizational factors approach to safety management," Post-Print hal-02290981, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02290981
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-018-9692-7
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://minesparis-psl.hal.science/hal-02290981
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah Maslen & Jan Hayes & Janice Wong & Christina Scott-Young, 2020. "Witch hunts and scapegoats: an investigation into the impact of personal liability concerns on engineers’ reporting of risks," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 413-426, September.
    2. Orana Sandri & Jan Hayes & Sarah Holdsworth, 2020. "Regulating urban development around major accident hazard pipelines: a systems comparison of governance frameworks in Australia and the UK," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 385-402, September.

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