Using Systems Thinking to deliver safety in complex organisations

10:00 - 10:50 | Dame Judith Hackitt

Many organisations still regard Health and Safety as being about compliance with rules and their motivation is driven ( to some extent at least) by avoidance of enforcement by the regulator. Whilst regulatory frameworks are important they describe  the very minimum we need to achieve. Regulation can often be very prescriptive which leads to the generation of checklists to demonstrate compliance but also encourages a “tick box” mentality rather than active management of risks which can change from day to day. Outcomes based regulation creates a better environment to encourage people to think specifically about the risks in their organisation and how to control them.

But if regulation only gets us to the minimum, what else do we need to do? Who should do it? Who is responsible? If we want to prevent harm we have to find ways of measuring whether we have the right processes in place to ensure things are safe, not wait to see if they go wrong. Those at the top of the organisation need to know the right questions to ask not only to assure themselves but to understand where the risks and vulnerabilities are. That means welcoming bad news as well as good.

As we all strive to manage multiple risks in increasingly complex and interdependent organisations, Dame Judith will share her thoughts on how  her experience as an engineer has led to her passion for bringing systems thinking to play in tackling wicked challenges.