Title: The limitations of the traditional safety metrics applied to safety on a dynamic civil aviation industry - an empirical study applied to Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory

Authors: José Manuel Vicente; Felipa Lopes dos Reis; Hugo Alves

Addresses: Universidade Lusófona – Centro, Universitário de Lisboa, Campo, Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal ' Universidade Lusófona – Centro, Universitário de Lisboa, Campo, Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal ' Universidade Lusófona – Centro, Universitário de Lisboa, Campo, Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to analyse the limitations of the metrics based on non-events applied to safety management systems, in a dynamic aviation industry. This philosophy is consistent with the perception that safety is characterised by the freedom of intolerable risk. The system is safe when nothing undesirable happens. However, it becomes a paradox to measure what cannot be controlled. The measurement of safety, by having as an indicator what went wrong, means that the safer a system is, the less there will be to measure and if something rarely happens, it becomes impossible to assess how well it works. In a metaphoric sense, it can either lead to the expected production goals but also to the limits of the system. A fundamental aspect of safety management is control, to have power over something, which under this paradox makes it increasingly difficult to achieve and with counterproductive results.

Keywords: aviation; decision-making; Hofstede's cultural dimensions; improvement management; safety and cultural management; resilience.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKMTH.2023.132781

International Journal of Knowledge Management in Tourism and Hospitality, 2023 Vol.3 No.2, pp.117 - 135

Received: 01 Jul 2022
Accepted: 05 Jul 2022
Published online: 09 Aug 2023 *

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