Premium
On a wing and a prayer? Exploring the human components of technological failure
Author(s) -
Smith Denis
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/1099-1743(200011/12)17:6<543::aid-sres339>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - causation , human error , prayer , work (physics) , accident (philosophy) , cognition , social system , systems thinking , sociology , computer science , epistemology , psychology , cognitive science , risk analysis (engineering) , knowledge management , engineering , business , social science , artificial intelligence , philosophy , mechanical engineering , religious studies , neuroscience
This paper attempts to explore the human factors and systems dynamics of human–machine interaction by reference to the Kegworth aircraft accident. The paper seeks to move beyond the more traditional human factors literature to include research findings from both systems research and crisis management in an attempt to examine the relationships between active and latent failures. The role of human error within complex technical systems is explored and particular emphasis is placed upon the dynamics of latent errors within the management of such systems. The main thesis developed here is that, while there are important cognitive processes at work within accident causation, attention needs to be moved away from the level of the operator to the wider managerial and social frameworks within which individuals work. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.