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Published on: February 16, 2011
Understanding organizational safety using value-focused thinking
Jason R W Merrick1, Martha Grabowski, Premnath Ayyalasomayajula
1Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. jrmerric@vcu.edu
Summary
This study applies value-focused thinking to understand safety decisions in marine transportation. It reveals fundamental objectives and interconnects decision contexts for improved risk management.
Area of Science:
- Decision Analysis
- Risk Management
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Decision analysis is crucial for risk management, utilizing probabilistic techniques for accident risk assessment.
- Managerial and organizational factors significantly influence accident likelihood, necessitating their inclusion in risk modeling.
- Existing decision analytic techniques have not adequately explored individual decision-making in risk contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply value-focused thinking to understand safety decisions made by individuals within an organization.
- To identify the values and objectives experts use to enhance safety performance in marine transportation.
- To develop a framework connecting different decision contexts within an organization for improved safety.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the framework of value-focused thinking.
- Conducted interviews with managers and employees at a domestic oil tanker operator.
- Analyzed expert values and objectives related to organizational safety performance.
Main Results:
- Identified fundamental objectives for safe operations across various organizational roles.
- Developed a framework that interconnects diverse decision-making contexts.
- Demonstrated a novel application of value-focused thinking in understanding safety decisions.
Conclusions:
- The developed framework offers a new perspective on understanding safety decisions in marine transportation.
- Integrating value-focused thinking provides insights into individual decision-making impacting accident risk.
- This approach enhances risk management by clarifying objectives and decision interconnections.
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