The recovery window

Description

"Analyzing the events surrounding the Columbia shuttle tragedy, we explore a high-risk organization's response to a recovery window, defined as the period between an ambiguous threat and a major accident (or prevented accident) in which constructive collective action is feasible. We show that Columbia's recovery window was characterized by active discounting of risk, fragmented disciplinary-based analyses, and a wait-and-see orientation to action. We propose mechanisms at three levels of analysis to explain this confirmatory response. We then suggest an alternative, preferred response to ambiguous threats in high-risk systems, characterized by over-responsiveness and a learning orientation, which we call an exploratory response. Leadership is critical to moving an organization away from the natural tendency to downplay ambiguous threats and toward an exploratory response."

Subjects

Series Statement

• Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 05-012