A few extracts from Kühl’s interesting book called ‘Influencing Organizational Culture’. It takes more of a deep, analytical and critical lens to ‘conventional’ cultural approaches. Extracts: · Kühl proposes that “to better understand the culture of an organization, we have to systematically distinguish between the three sides of an organization” · The formal side covers the “official… Continue reading The three sides of organisations to understand culture: formal, informal, display
Tag: culture
‘Organisational safety culture principles’: In Patient safety culture
Some extracts from Guldenmund’s interesting article ‘Organisational safety culture principles’: · Culture can be studied via different aggregated levels, with many authors relating it as “consisting of a core surrounded by one or more layers, not unlike the anatomy of an onion” · “Whereas the core is something (deeply) hidden, the culture projects itself gradually through and… Continue reading ‘Organisational safety culture principles’: In Patient safety culture
Compendium: Cultural approaches to safety / Safety Culture / Safety Climate / Org Culture
It’s no secret that I’m relatively cautious of ‘Safety Culture’. (** At least, I fall more into the interpretative, than functionalist, camp). Nevertheless, I get the question of evidence often, so here it is. A compendium of studies focused on organisational culture, culture of safety, safety culture and safety climate. Because there’s so many studies… Continue reading Compendium: Cultural approaches to safety / Safety Culture / Safety Climate / Org Culture
Ed Schein talking about cultures, psychological safety, and humble inquiry.
Ed Schein talking about cultures, psychological safety, and humble inquiry (link at end of post) Extracts: · “culture [is] multidimensional– we have many cultures. We don’t just have a culture” · “if we don’t become aware of how much our thinking is culturally determined, culturally at the level of nation– you all come from different countries and different ethnicities; that’s a big… Continue reading Ed Schein talking about cultures, psychological safety, and humble inquiry.
Systems thinking, culture of reliability and safety
Fantastic read from Nick Pidgeon on how systems approaches, Turner’s MMD, sensemaking, failure and learning intersect to create or mask ‘safety’. Can’t do it justice, so just a few extracts: · “By 1990, it was clear that the .. intellectual focus was less on analysing how past accidents had occurred .. and more towards .. how… Continue reading Systems thinking, culture of reliability and safety
Organizational structure and safety culture: Conceptual and practical challenges
Organizational structure and safety culture: Conceptual and practical challenges A banger read (as Schulman’s work often is) exploring some links and challenges about safety culture and organising/structuring for culture. Not a summary as I can’t do it justice, so just read the paper (full link below). This comes from an upcoming mini-compendium on safety culture… Continue reading Organizational structure and safety culture: Conceptual and practical challenges
Mental Health Causation in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review Employing a Psychological Safety Climate Model
This systematic review studied the links between psychological safety climate (PSC) on mental health in the construction industry. 71 studies included. Key findings: · 42 mental health causation factors were identified · High job demand was the most significant contributor, followed by interpersonal relationships, low job control, low job support, and physical status · High job demand was… Continue reading Mental Health Causation in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review Employing a Psychological Safety Climate Model
Mini-Compendium: Psychological Safety
Given the prominence of Psychological Safety (PS), it’s worth sharing some research. It’s likely among the most studied modern concepts in organisational theory – so I can barely scratch the surface. Focus first is articles I’ve summarised, and then on any other full-text items I can find. In my haste, I’ve probably included some psychological… Continue reading Mini-Compendium: Psychological Safety
“We miss a great deal when we substitute culture for power” – Charles Perrow on the role of power in disaster
“We miss a great deal when we substitute culture for power” I love this quote from Perrow in Normal Accidents (emphasis added). Perrow briefly discusses the role of power in organising risky technology. Discussing Vaughan’s interpretation of the Challenger disaster: · “I also find the role of power and interests minimized in Diane Vaughn’s otherwise excellent… Continue reading “We miss a great deal when we substitute culture for power” – Charles Perrow on the role of power in disaster
Why regulators Should Stay away from Safety Culture and Stick to Rules Instead
This banger chapter comes from an equally slapping book ‘Trapping Safety into Rules’. The authors argue why “regulators should stay away from safety culture”. Too much to cover, so just a few points. They open with “Ever since the Chernobyl catastrophe, safety culture has been invoked as a crucial discriminator between good and bad ways… Continue reading Why regulators Should Stay away from Safety Culture and Stick to Rules Instead
SafetyInsights.org 