TITLE:
Understanding Reporting and Problem-Solving Behaviors in a High Reliability Organization: A Case Study in a Spanish Nuclear Company
AUTHORS:
Joaquín Navajas, Eulàlia Badia
KEYWORDS:
Reporting Culture, Organizational Culture, Safety Culture, Nuclear Industry, Interpretative Repertoires
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.11 No.9,
September
29,
2020
ABSTRACT: The safety of high-reliability organizations is a factor resulting from the interaction between technology and organizational factors. The existence of a system to openly report incidents and without being afraid is paramount for safety. Previous research has identified organizational factors that foster or inhibit employees’ participation in reporting as well as several organizational dilemmas. From this theoretical approach, this research presents a case study in a Spanish nuclear organization to understand how the event reporting system is perceived by its workers. Researchers carried out focus groups, which were designed to generate discourse around the organization’s reporting system. Participants’ discourse was analyzed to identify key interpretative repertoires. Results obtained show two main aspects related with the notifying and problem-solution behaviors: 1) the ineludible cultural nature of the reporting system and 2) the misleading relationship between reporting and problem-solving. These findings should be considered in order to manage the safety in risky industry.