Adaptation failures that cause error in technical organizations

2001 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-312
Author(s):  
J.S. Busby
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Level ◽  
Historical Experience ◽  
Technical Organizations

A study was conducted of 127 cases of organizational error in engineering companies, analysing in particular the adaptation failures they pointed to: that is, the reasons that adaptation to past error had not led to error-free performance. The cases were first categorised according to whether the failure was due to situational variety or shortcomings in learning. Shortcomings in learning were then differentiated according to whether the cause lay with individuals' inferences, the structure of the engineering task they were performing, characteristics of tools used during the task, or organizational-level phenomena. A detailed taxonomy was developed for the cases collected under these categories. An attempt was then made to find an over-arching explanation of these adaptation failures, most of which turned out to be cases where earlier adaptations had been too rapid and definitive. The individuals or organizations in question had taken account of historical experience, but had done so in a way that discounted the possibility that this experience was idiosyncratic or temporary. This was explained in terms of the reinforcing feedback that arises from a number of effects. The suggestion is also made that there are good reasons why reinforcing feedback is ultimately functional, even though it appears to underlie particular adaptation failures and errors.

Direct Actions in the Czech Environmental Movement

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-156
Author(s):  
Arnošt Novák
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Environmental Movement ◽  
Environmental Movements ◽  
Internal Dynamics ◽  
Historical Experience ◽  
Ideal Types ◽  
Environmental Milieu ◽  
Liberal Concept

Direct actions constitute an important repertoire of action for environmental movements in Western countries. This article differentiates two ideal types of this repertoire of action: the anarchist concept, which understands direct action in terms of values and as a preferred way of doing things; and the liberal concept, which uses direct action in an instrumental way. Based on my empirical research in post-socialist Czech Republic, the article focuses on debates over environmentalism and, to be more precise, on uses of direct actions by environmental organizations. It explains why the liberal concept was very limited and why direct action as a preferred way of doing things has not become a part of the repertoire of collective action. The article argues that the movement was politically moderate due to a combination of reasons: the very specific historical experience of the Czech environmental movement, which inclines it to use dialogue rather than confrontations with power; the fear of political hostility and marginalization by the state; and the internal dynamics of the environmental milieu.

Possible Ways To Manage Personal Gender-Role Conflicts In Career Development

1970 ◽  
pp. 50-58
Author(s):  
Оксана Чуйко
Keyword(s):  
Career Development ◽  
Gender Role ◽  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Family Values ◽  
Family Counseling ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Role Conflicts ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
And Gender

The paper contributes to efforts to theoretically analyze possible psychological approaches personal gender-role conflict in career development, selected in terms of causes and peculiarities of its manifestation. We suggest considering such approaches at two levels – personal and orga­ni­zational ones. Personal level involves generating achievement motivation and psychological cri­teria for success; developing emotional competence; analyzing career and family values, identifying immediate life goals; analyzing family concepts; family counseling; psychological work with men aimed at maintaining parental identity; developing role competence; time management; psycho­logical analysis of individual gender identity and gender experience; challenging gender stereo­types. Organizational level includes developing family-friendly workplace culture, relying on gen­der-specific approach in staff coaching.

TRAINING IN PISTOL SHOOTING: HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE AND LESSONS

2018 ◽  
pp. 140-147
Author(s):  
Evgeny Yu. Krivoruchko ◽  
◽  
Yuri P. Ridkozub ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Historical Experience

‘... Call the Mute Artifacts to Speech’: New Essays on the History of Archeology

2018 ◽  
pp. 1274-1279
Author(s):  
Elena V. Olimpieva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
Historical Experience ◽  
Historical Material ◽  
Manuscript Tradition ◽  
History Of ◽  
Publication Practices ◽  
Controversial Nature

The article reviews O. A. Shashkova’s ‘... Call the Mute Artifacts to Speech.’ Essays on the History of Archaeography of the 15th - Early 20th Century. Wide array of sources and broad geographical frameworks allow Shashkova to present emergence and development of Russian and European archaeography from the 15th to early 20th century intelligibly enough for educational purposes. A whole chapter is devoted to the manuscript tradition and publishing of sources before Gutenberg. When considering the formation of archaeographical tradition, the author uses comparative method. O. A. Shashkova offers a historical overview and analyzes theoretical and practical issues of archaeography. The reviewer notes the significance of the chosen topic due to a need to reconsider the development of publishing in light of modern views on archaeography and to make it accessible to students and non-professionals. She notes traditional academic approach of O. A. Shashkova to presentation of the development publication practices. The review considers the possibility of using the ‘Essays...’ in studying the history of archaeography and offers possible directions for a broader consideration of historical experience, in particular, of Novikov’s publication projects. The review notes the controversial nature of the author’s approach to systematization of her large historical material in order to consider issues concerning the study of archaeographical practices. It stresses that coverage of issues of development of methods of preparation of publications separately from its historical and practical aspects hinders successful mastering of the material by an untrained reader. It concludes that the publication has high practical value for specialists in archaeography and students.

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