About the Author
Steven Shorrock is an interdisciplinary humanistic, systems and design practitioner interested in human work from multiple perspectives.
Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) & Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist (CErgHF)
Tag Archives: Systems Thinking
Ten Contextual Conversations
All human activity, along with associated emergent problematic situations and opportunities, is embedded in context. The ‘context’ is, however, a a melange of different contexts. An approach that I have found useful is to spend time considering contextual influences (e.g., on decision making, at multiple levels of organisations) on problematic situations or potential solutions, more explicitly. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, Systems Thinking
Tagged context, human factors, opportunities, problems, systems safety, Systems Thinking, work
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Four Kinds of Thinking: 2. Systems Thinking
Understanding and intervention for system performance and human wellbeing is rooted – to some extent – in four kinds of thinking. In this short series, I outline these. This post concerns Systems Thinking. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, Systems Thinking
Tagged systems safety, Systems Thinking
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The Reality of Goal Conflicts and Trade-offs
“Safety is our number 1 priority!” But is it really? Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, Systems Thinking
Tagged decision making, goal conflicts, goals, Systems Thinking, trade-offs
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Shorrock’s Law of Limits
“When you put a limit on a measure, if that measure relates to efficiency, the limit will be used as a target.” Continue reading
Posted in Systems Thinking
Tagged limits, measures, regulation, Systems Thinking, targets
The Organisational Homelessness of ‘Human Factors’
In this post, I outline four common homes for HF/E within organisations, drawing on personal experience in each of the four organisational divisions in different organisations. I conclude with some of the implications of organisational homelessness. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Systems Thinking
Tagged ergonomics, human factors, organisations, silos, Systems Thinking, work
System Safety: Seven Friends of Explanation
In this short series, I highlight seven foes and seven friends of system safety, both for explanation and intervention. Each is a concept, meme, or device used in thinking, language, and intervention (reinforced by more fundamental foes that act as barriers … Continue reading
System Safety: Seven Foes of Intervention
In this short series, I highlight seven foes and seven friends of system safety, both for explanation and intervention. Each is a concept, meme, or device used in thinking, language, and intervention (reinforced by more fundamental foes that act as barriers to thinking). They are not the only foes or friends, of course, but they are significant ones that either crop up regularly in discussions and writings about safety, or else – in the case of friends – should do.
In this post, I outline seven foes of intervention. Continue reading
System Safety: Seven Foes of Explanation
In this short series, I will highlight seven foes and seven friends of system safety, both for explanation and intervention. Each is a concept, meme, or device used in thinking, language, and intervention (reinforced by more fundamental foes that act as barriers to thinking). They are not the only foes or friends, of course, but they are significant ones that either crop up regularly in discussions and writings about safety, or else – in the case of friends – should do. Continue reading
Learning Teams, Learning from Communities
Learning Teams, Learning from Communities
In this article, I refer to some of the ideas and writings of asset-based community development to reflect on Learning Teams in health and safety, and small group conversations and action more generally in organisations. I highlight four lessons from ABCD for learning teams and host organisations. Continue reading
Posted in Humanistic Psychology, Safety, Systems Thinking
Tagged ABCD, community, health and safety, learning, safety, safety culture, safety management, safety-II, Systems Thinking, teams, teamwork
