This project investigated how teams, specifically operations and maintenance teams, work together in a plant setting. The project resulted in a toolkit members can use to support the development of teamwork, empowerment, and psychological safety in the workplace.
Scott Tannenbaum and the project team at the Group for Organizational Effectiveness (gOE) conducted a study to determine how to better support the development of teamwork at COP member facilities. During the study the project team visited 3 member sites, conducting an in depth training needs analysis. This was done by using interviews and observing current work practices. After the site visits the team identified specific drivers of team effectiveness and created a survey to verify and refine the specific learning objectives and focus areas. The survey on teaming was then completed by an additional three member sites. The project resulted in a group of deliverables focused on how to improve “teaming” between and amongst operations and maintenance groups. The deliverables include the survey, assessment guides, checklists, training scenarios and guidance on how to implement and use the tools. Potential follow on projects include developing a more comprehensive implementation guide as well as expanding the study to include additional work groups.
Impacts from decision errors in plant operations vary greatly, from minor to catastrophic. Programs that seek to reduce human error also vary greatly. Successful and safe plant operations requires fast and competent decision making that is highly risk aversive. Personnel may make these decisions correctly when provided with training that emphasizes the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to handle such challenging situations. Crew Resource Management (CRM), widely used in the medical and aerospace communities, can be adapted to the petrochemical industry. CRM utilizes different instructional tools to improve the quality of team behaviors, improvement of attitudes about teamwork, and ultimately, the reduction of errors.
• Does current training support development of teamwork, attitudes, empowerment, and psychological safety in the workforce?
• How can implementation of CRM reduce human error?
• What does CRM training for the petrochemical industry look like?
• What are industry-wide issues with CRM?
Data provided by Dr. Salas indicates CRM principles accounted for a reduction in errors in the medical field. CRM utilizes different instructional tools to improve the quality of team behaviors, improvement of attitudes about teamwork, and ultimately, the reduction of errors. Although CRM is not being used in the petrochemical industry, the researchers hold that it can be adapted.
- Reports – We will provide a kick-off meeting update detailing any agreements. Furthermore, as per
project guidelines, we will provide monthly status reports indicating our progress on the various tasks/deliverables.
• At the conclusion of Stage I, in lieu of a monthly status report, we will provide a brief written
summary report of the work to date.
• At the conclusion of Stage II, in lieu of a monthly status report, we will provide a comprehensive
summary report that contains integrated findings from the interviews and survey. This report will provide recommendations for implementation of CRM within the industry. - Tools and Resources – At the conclusion of Stage II, we will provide relevant tools/resources. The exact nature of these will be determined based on the needs identified, but could include for example:
• A teamwork assessment tool with behavioral markers, for use before and/or after training.
• Tools to support on-going team learning, for example a teamwork debriefing guide. - Training Design Blueprint – A blueprint that describes how to implement CRM for one of the sites visited. Note that this deliverable is not the actual training materials but is a detailed outline/framework/guidebook for developing the training (“program of instruction”). This will be consistent with our industry-wide recommendations but tailored to fit the specific needs of the site.