Error Avoidance in Postmodern

Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Situations

Theresa Wilson

MHA601 Principles of Health Care Administration

March 18, 2013

Tricia Devin

Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Situations

Introduction

This composition deals with Error Avoidance in Post Modern/Complex Adaptive Systems discussed in Johnson (2009). This discussion will be completed through the analysis of the scenarios in Exercise 2 on page 80 and from these readings, a description of why each of these scenarios may be considered errors. Johnson (2009) provides eight sets of management approaches based on postmodern/complexity lens. They are: Uncertainty Reduction and Uncertainty Absorption, Decision Making and Sensemaking, Problem Solving and Dilemma Resolving, Knowing and Learning, Planning and Improvisation, Controlling (Steering) and Observing (Awareness and Reflection), Exercising Power and Providing Leadership and Achieving the Expected and Creating and Releasing Potential. These approaches will be used to analyze the bulleted errors in Exercise 2 and formulate strategies to avoid these errors.

Identified Errors and Avoidance Strategies

Error 1: Failing to account for employees’ ability to learn safe machine operation methods by experimenting on their own with ways to speed up production and thereby reduce the effort they are required to use.  

This is an example of the difference between Knowing and Learning and the errors

managers can make by not distinguishing between the two. Safe machine operation requires training and orientation for employees- (this constitutes knowing).  Learning and experimenting with operating the machine day-after-day allows the employee to gain experience, wisdom and proficiency.  Failure of a manager to capture and incorporate this learning into improving production and safety in the organization is an error.  This error could be avoided if the manager actively encourages employees that know the basic safe operations of the...