Monitoreo y control del proyecto

This thesis contains eight chapters which are briefly summarised below.

1.4.1 Chapter 1

This introductory chapter outlines the problem statement, the research aims and approach and the structure of the thesis.

1.4.2 Chapter 2

An overview of the literature that creates the context for the research contained in the thesis is presented in this chapter. The reviewed topics include: key accident causation theories, the systems approach to accident analysis, the evolution of accident analysis models and methods and the current evidence indicating the presence of an SAA RPG.

1.4.3 Chapter 3

In this chapter the SAA literature and analysis techniques are evaluated in order to understand how their characteristics contribute to the SAA RPG.

Initially, the SAA literature is examined to determine how it incorporates and presents the core concepts of systems theory. The development process, systems approach characteristics and usage characteristics of the three most popular SAA techniques are then evaluated. The findings of the study are discussed to highlight a number of factors which may influence the SAA RPG.

The method evaluation component of this study was published in two conference proceedings and, subsequently, as a book chapter (see Underwood and Waterson, 2012a; 2012b; 2012c). Underwood and Waterson (2012a) can be seen in Appendix 1.1.

1.4.4 Chapter 4

This chapter follows on from the research presented in Chapter 3 and examines the SAA RPG from a different perspective. Safety experts were interviewed to understand the factors stemming from practice which contribute to the SAA RPG. In combination with the findings of Study 1, an overall description of the SAA RPG is provided and the factors which contribute to it are discussed.

The findings of this study were published in the Accident Analysis &

Prevention journal: Underwood and Waterson (2013a) is presented in Appendix 1.2.

1.4.5 Chapter 5

The extent of the SAA RPG is investigated in this chapter. The academic debate on the ability of the most popular analysis technique, the Swiss Cheese Model (SCM), to conduct SAA is presented. A major accident case study is then analysed using a practitioner-developed SCM-based model and two SAA methods (AcciMap and the Systems Theoretic Accident Modelling and Processes model). The analysis outputs and usage of the techniques are compared and the issue of whether or not the SCM can offer a systems approach to accident analysis is discussed. An assessment of the extent of the SAA RPG is then presented.

The findings of this study were also published in the Accident Analysis &

Prevention journal, as part of a special issue on ‘systems thinking in workplace safety and health’: Underwood and Waterson (2013b) is presented in Appendix 1.3.

1.4.6 Chapter 6

This chapter follows on from the findings of Study 2 (see Chapter 4), which indicate that SAA methods must meet the needs of practitioners if they are to be employed. A practitioner evaluation of the Systems Theoretic Accident Modelling and Processes model (STAMP) is presented in this chapter. Six trainee accident investigators performed a STAMP analysis on data collected during an accident investigation simulation and assessed the effectiveness and usability of the method. The findings of the study are discussed with regards to how the usage characteristics of STAMP may affects its use by practitioners.

1.4.7 Chapter 7

A discussion of the research contained in the thesis is provided in this chapter. Initially, a brief summary of the studies is presented. The overarching topics of whether the SAA RPG needs to be bridged, how this

can be achieved and if it is possible to bridge the gap are then examined.

Finally, the limitations of the research, as a whole, are discussed.

1.4.8 Chapter 8

This chapter presents the overall conclusions of the research and the contribution to knowledge provided by this thesis. Future work is then proposed which could follow on from this thesis along with suggestions for broader SAA RPG research. A graphical summary of the thesis is provided in Figure 3.

Chapter 1 – Thesis overview

• Problem statement

• Research aims

• Research approach

• Thesis structure

Chapter 2 - Accident causation and analysis, the systems approach and research-practice gaps

• Theories of accident causation

• The systems approach

• Accident analysis models and methods

• The systemic accident analysis research-practice gap

Chapter 7 – Discussion

• Summary of research

• Does the SAA research-practice gap need to be bridged?

• Bridging the SAA research-practice gap

• Can the SAA research-practice gap be bridged?

• Methodological considerations

Chapter 3 - Study 1: Evaluating the systemic accident analysis models, methods and literature

• Identify the key components of systems theory

• Examine the SAA literature

• Identify and evaluate popular SAA models and methods

Chapter 4 - Study 2: Factors contributing to the SAA research-practice gap

• 42 semi-structured interviews with safety experts

• Understand how the awareness of, and need for, SAA within the practitioner community and their current analysis approaches may hinder the adoption and use of SAA

• Probe deeper into the issues stemming from research which contribute to the SAA RPG

Chapter 5 - Study 3: Systemic accident analysis vs. the Swiss Cheese Model

• Analyse a major accident with an SCM-based model and two SAA methods

• Compare the analysis outputs and usage of the techniques

• Discuss whether or not the SCM can apply the systems approach and the extent of the SAA RPG

Chapter 6 - Study 4: Evaluating a systemic accident analysis model

• STAMP analysis workshop conducted, method evaluation questionnaire and focus group employed

• STAMP used and evaluated by practitioners

• Usage characteristics of STAMP discussed

Chapter 8 – Conclusions and future work

• Conclusions

• Knowledge contribution

• Future work

Figure 3 - Thesis structure

Chapter 2 – Accident causation and analysis, the

systems approach and research-practice gaps