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1 – 10 of 181Evan H. Offstein, Raymond Kniphuisen, D. Robin Bichy and J. Stephen Childers
In light of and due to the spike in concern regarding high hazard industries, in general, and nuclear power plants (NPPs) in particular, resulting from the Japanese earthquake and…
Abstract
Purpose
In light of and due to the spike in concern regarding high hazard industries, in general, and nuclear power plants (NPPs) in particular, resulting from the Japanese earthquake and crisis at Fukushima, the purpose of this paper is to offer an innovative organizational development (OD) intervention that may enhance safety and operational performance directed at these critical organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on and integrating key elements of strategy, leadership coaching and development and assessment, the authors describe and detail an intervention designed to bring a troubled NPP to a state of reliability.
Findings
It was found that performance improved in a relatively short amount of time from implementing this OD tool.
Practical implications
The findings contained herein may apply to any organization aiming to improve on safety and operational performance.
Originality/value
The paper's findings should appeal to high hazard and high reliability organizations, such as those found within the energy industry, that must continuously strive toward improved operational and safety performance.
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Evan H. Offstein, Raymond Kniphuisen, D. Robin Bichy and J. Stephen Childers Jr
Recent lapses in the management of high hazard organizations, such as the Fukushima event or the Deepwater Horizon blast, add considerable urgency to better understand the…
Abstract
Purpose
Recent lapses in the management of high hazard organizations, such as the Fukushima event or the Deepwater Horizon blast, add considerable urgency to better understand the complicated and complex phenomena of leading and managing high reliability organizations (HRO). The purpose of this paper is to offer both theoretical and practical insight to further strengthen reliability in high hazard organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Phenomenological study based on over three years of research and thousands of hours of study in HROs conducted through a scholar-practitioner partnership.
Findings
The findings indicate that the identification and the management of competing tensions arising from misalignment within and between public policy, organizational strategy, communication, decision-making, organizational learning, and leadership is the critical factor in explaining improved reliability and safety of HROs.
Research limitations/implications
Stops short of full-blown grounded theory. Steps were made to ensure validity; however, generalizability may be limited due to sample.
Practical implications
Provides insight into reliably operating organizations that are crucial to society where errors would cause significant damage or loss.
Originality/value
Extends high reliability research by investigating more fully the competing tensions present in these complex, societally crucial organizations.
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Jonathan Passmore, Victoria Krauesslar and Rachel Avery
The purpose of this paper is to critically review the research literature on safety coaching, with a particularly focus towards work in safety critical environments such as oil…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to critically review the research literature on safety coaching, with a particularly focus towards work in safety critical environments such as oil and gas, manufacturing and driving.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review was undertaken of existing research, specifically in high-hazard industries, to assess whether safety coaching could be applied in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Findings
The paper suggests that coaching may offer some potential in helping support learning, behaviour change and is consistent with feedback and development approaches used in behavioural-based safety.
Research limitations/implications
Further research would be needed to test the value of coaching to this new environment.
Practical implications
The paper informs practice on the development of coach training for safety coaching offshore.
Originality/value
The paper offers a new understanding of the potential of safety coaching in a new area of practice.
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– Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
Effective management is a must for any business organization. In certain sectors though, such capabilities become even more imperative. Industries defined as being extremely hazardous are a case in point. Nuclear power plants illustrate this perfectly. Safety is obviously paramount in these complexes to the point where even a minor mishap can have grave consequences. When more serious accidents occur, devastating effects on humanity and the environment is virtually inevitable. Think Chernobyl. You'd be forgiven then for assuming that performance in all nuclear energy stations would be comparable and of the required standard. And why not? After all, the structural design and technology used is largely homogenous. Any differences in these respects are inconsequential.
Originality/value
Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.
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Todd D. Smith and Mari-Amanda Dyal
The purpose of this paper is to develop and present a safety-oriented job demands-resources (JD-R) model that supports the notion that excessive job demands in the fire service…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and present a safety-oriented job demands-resources (JD-R) model that supports the notion that excessive job demands in the fire service, when not controlled or countered, may increase firefighter burnout and diminish firefighter safety.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach for the present project includes a review of the JD-R literature and the presentation of a conceptual model specific to fire service organizations.
Findings
A conceptual model, relevant to fire service organizations was derived. The model argues that excessive job demands associated with workload, physical demands, emotional demands, and complexity can result in burnout if not controlled or countered. Safety-specific resources, including recovery, support, safety-specific transformational leadership and safety climate are theorized to buffer these effects and are suggested to enhance firefighter engagement. These effects are argued then to improve firefighter safety. Ultimately, the findings will help guide future research, intervention projects and workplace safety and health management programs and initiatives.
Originality/value
This paper and conceptual model extends the application of the JD-R model to fire service organizations. Further, the conceptual model supports the application of safety-specific job resources vs more traditional job resources as a means to enhance firefighter safety.
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Neither capture theory, nor neo‐conservative theory and technical failure arguments adequately account for the behaviour of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration…
Abstract
Neither capture theory, nor neo‐conservative theory and technical failure arguments adequately account for the behaviour of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) during the 1970s. A framework drawn from organisation theory suggests that regulatory failure is due to a crisis of compliance resources caused by a flawed legislative mandate. Lacking effective compliance mechanisms, regulatory agencies are forced into a bargaining posture rather than an enforcement stance towards industry. This leads to creation of de facto policy which diverges substantially from the original legislative mandate, and this is read as evidence for regulation failure.
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Evan H. Offstein, Ronald L. Dufresne and John S. Childers Jr
In this paper, we problematize the prevailing assumptions in the executive coaching literature that effective coaching is deliberative, trust-based and relational in nature…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, we problematize the prevailing assumptions in the executive coaching literature that effective coaching is deliberative, trust-based and relational in nature, thereby requiring significant time investment before the focal leader might realize enacted benefits from the coaching. Contrary to these prevailing assumptions, we propose five contingencies wherein a more direct, performance-first approach to coaching may be more effective.
Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual paper reviews relevant literature to develop testable propositions regarding directive coaching contingencies.
Findings
We develop propositions that argue executive coaches will need to employ a more directive, urgent and accountable coaching relationship when the executive's career is in jeopardy, the organization is in distress, if the leader needs to signal legitimacy, if the coaching occurs within the boundaries of a high reliability organization or if the coach is working with an executive who has interim status.
Originality/value
This paper intends to advance the theory and practice of executive coaching by challenging executive coaching orthodoxy regarding the need for a deliberative, relational approach to coaching. Future research should broaden this theorizing and empirically test our propositions.
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