Deepwater Horizon Working Paper
Deepwater Horizon Study Group
Working Paper – January 2011
3
A High Reliability Management Perspective on the
Deepwater Horizon Spill, Including Research Implications
Emery Roei and Paul R. Schulmanii
Abstract
Looking back on events leading up to the Deepwater Horizon Spill raises questions about how the Spill is currently portrayed. We run the risk of focusing too narrowly on a sequence of particular events as the main culprit when the accidents and failures that did not happen are just as important to understand in drawing the right policy implications. Looking forward means we also have to better understand how and why “better regulation” can‟t be the only or even primary answer to more reliable deepwater drilling. Research is proposed detailing …show more content…
9
Deepwater Horizon Study Group – Working Paper
A High Reliability Management perspective on the Deepwater Horizon Spill, Including Research Implications
These regulatory challenges need careful analysis. But a prior need is to at least identify empirical measures of when control operators move to their performance edges and into their precursor zones. That way, we would be able to see that those movements into the precursor zone constitute substantial proof that “threats to reliability are actually happening, right now, right here.” With indicators, we‟d also have a chance to see whether new regulations themselves move operators away from the precursor zone as hoped or closer to those performance edges as often inadvertently happens. 5. Third-Order Questions
Third, it is important to understand the rates of change and growing complexity in the
Working Paper – January 2011
3
A High Reliability Management Perspective on the
Deepwater Horizon Spill, Including Research Implications
Emery Roei and Paul R. Schulmanii
Abstract
Looking back on events leading up to the Deepwater Horizon Spill raises questions about how the Spill is currently portrayed. We run the risk of focusing too narrowly on a sequence of particular events as the main culprit when the accidents and failures that did not happen are just as important to understand in drawing the right policy implications. Looking forward means we also have to better understand how and why “better regulation” can‟t be the only or even primary answer to more reliable deepwater drilling. Research is proposed detailing …show more content…
9
Deepwater Horizon Study Group – Working Paper
A High Reliability Management perspective on the Deepwater Horizon Spill, Including Research Implications
These regulatory challenges need careful analysis. But a prior need is to at least identify empirical measures of when control operators move to their performance edges and into their precursor zones. That way, we would be able to see that those movements into the precursor zone constitute substantial proof that “threats to reliability are actually happening, right now, right here.” With indicators, we‟d also have a chance to see whether new regulations themselves move operators away from the precursor zone as hoped or closer to those performance edges as often inadvertently happens. 5. Third-Order Questions
Third, it is important to understand the rates of change and growing complexity in the