Evaluating and designing procedures in safety critical environments: a framework and taxonomy based on a critical review and synthesis

Abstract

Past research in procedure following has primarily concentrated on the effect of procedure-related factors on procedure compliance and non-compliance. Non-compliance is generally considered to be uniformly negative, rather than the outcome that results from other factors. However, there is a general consensus that procedures are not designed for all situations, and that non-compliance can improve outcomes under certain situations. It is therefore important to understand procedure following based on outcomes and not only procedure compliance or non-compliance. To that end, a framework and taxonomy for understanding procedure following has been developed that enables researchers to focus on the outcome of following procedures, not simply on compliance and non-compliance.

Keywords:

• Checklists
• compliance
• non-compliance
• outcome
• procedures
• system performance

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deepti Surabattula

Deepti Surabattula, Ph.D. received her Ph.D. from the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University in 2014.

Steven J. Landry

Steven J. Landry, Ph.D. is an associate professor and the associate head in the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2004.

Barrett S. Caldwell

Barrett S. Caldwell, Ph.D. is a Professor in the School of Industrial Engineering (courtesy appointment in School of Aeronautics and Astronautics) at Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. from University of California-Davis in 1990.