Presentation
Challenging Risk-Averse Culture with Acceptable Failure
SessionTransfer of Knowledge
DescriptionThe nature of incident responses, regardless of complexity, carry the inherent risk of failure through employed tactics and actions. Most individuals and organizations associate failure with negativity, yet not all failures are bad. Aiming to prove a certain level of failure is acceptable, research is focused on determining the costs and benefits of failure and the impact of the individual or organizational culture within emergency management. Overall, there are three types of failure: preventable, unavoidable, and intellectual. Each type of failure contains a different level of risk and acceptance. Unavoidable failures must have complete acceptance, as they cannot be deferred, while preventable failures have very little room for acceptance. Defined terms were applied to the Texas City Y oil spill response and standard organizational exercise practices to demonstrate the importance of acceptable failure and adaptive learning. Concepts regarding the “fog of war” from military philosopher Carl von Clausewitz can be applied to expedited, thoughtful decision-making in emergency management. Additionally, Aristotle’s philosophy on perfection can be tailored to explain the acceptance of intellectual failure and its need. Due to perceptions and lack of knowledge regarding failure types, many organizations and individuals are risk-averse rendering them unwilling to accept or tolerate “acceptable failures.” These risk-averse cultures are damaging and call on emergency managers to challenge standard practices. Fostering a shift in culture to a more entrepreneurial nature and adapting several ways to leverage failure is necessary to encourage growth from acceptable failures, cultivate innovative environments, and create operational efficiencies.
Event Type
Paper
TimeThursday, May 16th10:00am - 10:20am CDT
Location278-280
Restoration