The Effect of Culture on Human Factors - Halldale · PDF fileThe Effect of Culture on Human...

The Effect of Culture on Human Factors

The Effect of Culture on Human Factors

Lex Rock Heemstra Human Factors Specialist – Flight Training

Lex Rock Heemstra Human Factors Specialist – Flight Training

DiscussionDiscussion

• Definitions of Culture• Hofstede’s National Culture Traits• FMAQ - Helmreich/Merrit Pilot study• FCAQ - Emirates Pilot Study• National Traits and CRM programs

• Definitions of Culture• Hofstede’s National Culture Traits• FMAQ - Helmreich/Merrit Pilot study• FCAQ - Emirates Pilot Study• National Traits and CRM programs

What is Culture?What is Culture?

• National • Organisational • Professional• Safety• The way we do things!!

• National • Organisational • Professional• Safety• The way we do things!!

Hofstedes Cultural StudiesHofstedes Cultural Studies

• Gert Hofstede – 1967-1973– 88 000 IBM personnel– 66 Countries– 38 different professions

• Dimensions: – Power Distance– Uncertainty Avoidance– Individualism vs Collectivism– Masculine vs. Feminine

• Gert Hofstede – 1967-1973– 88 000 IBM personnel– 66 Countries– 38 different professions

• Dimensions: – Power Distance– Uncertainty Avoidance– Individualism vs Collectivism– Masculine vs. Feminine

Helmreich & Merrit Pilot CultureHelmreich & Merrit Pilot Culture

• Research 1993-1997– 15 000 pilots– 36 Airlines– 23 Countries

• FMAQ – Flight Management Attitude Questionnaire

• Compared Hofstedes 4 dimensions

• Research 1993-1997– 15 000 pilots– 36 Airlines– 23 Countries

• FMAQ – Flight Management Attitude Questionnaire

• Compared Hofstedes 4 dimensions

National Culture - HofstedeNational Culture - Hofstede

Power DistancePower Distance

Unc

erta

inty

Avo

idan

ceU

ncer

tain

ty A

void

ance

20 40 60 80 100 120

20

40

60

80

00

120

▀ Switzerland▀ Switzerland

▀ South Africa▀ South Africa

▀ Argentina▀ Argentina

▀ Australia▀ Australia

▀ Brazil▀ Brazil

▀ British HK▀ British HK

▀ Denmark▀ Denmark

▀ Germany▀ Germany

▀ Greece▀ Greece

▀ Ireland▀ Ireland

▀ Italy▀ Italy

▀ Japan▀ Japan

▀ Korea▀ Korea

▀ Malaysia▀ Malaysia

▀ Mexico▀ Mexico

▀ Morocco▀ Morocco▀ New Zealand▀ New Zealand

▀ Norway▀ Norway

▀ Philippines▀ Philippines

▀ Sweden▀ Sweden

▀ Taiwan▀ Taiwan

▀ USA▀ USA

55% Pilots44% PilotsPilot AverageNational Average

48% Pilots 53% Pilots

-20

0

20

40

60

80

2020 4040 60 80 100 120

IndividualismIndividualism

Mas

culin

ityM

ascu

linity

-40140 160

▀ Australia▀ Australia

National AveragePilot Average

▀ Greece▀ Greece

▀ Japan▀ Japan

▀ Argentina▀ Argentina

▀ Korea▀ Korea

▀ Mexico▀ Mexico

▀ Brazil▀ Brazil▀ Taiwan▀ Taiwan

▀ Italy▀ Italy

▀ Malaysia▀ Malaysia

▀ Germany▀ Germany

▀ South Africa▀ South Africa

▀ Norway▀ Norway▀ Sweden▀ Sweden

▀ British HK▀ British HK

▀ New Zealand▀ New Zealand

▀ USA▀ USA

▀ Switzerland▀ Switzerland

▀ Denmark▀ Denmark

▀ Ireland▀ Ireland

▀ Morocco▀ Morocco

▀ Philippines▀ Philippines

National Culture - HofstedeNational Culture - Hofstede

2020 40402020 40

ObservationsObservations

• Power Distance = Low• Uncertainty Avoidance = Low• Individualism = Very High• Masculinity = Moderate to High• Anglo & Nordic pilots:

– Share similar Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance as their countrymen.

– Masculinity: Anglo countries slightly lower & Nordic countries stable.

• Power Distance = Low• Uncertainty Avoidance = Low• Individualism = Very High• Masculinity = Moderate to High• Anglo & Nordic pilots:

– Share similar Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance as their countrymen.

– Masculinity: Anglo countries slightly lower & Nordic countries stable.

Professional CultureProfessional Culture20 Countries Response by Nationality (average score)

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30Questions

Scor

e

Australian UAE Belgium Brazil Canada Sw iss German FrenchBritish Irish Italy Mexican Malaysia Dutch USA Sw edenNew Zealand South Africa India Jamaica

Power DistancePower Distance"I find most Captains are open and approachable regarding the discussion

of flight operations before and during the flight." (N=1830; 1= Disagree Strongly, 5= Agree Strongly)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Australia

Belgium

Brazil

Britain

Canada

France

German

yHolla

ndIre

land

India

Italy

Jamaic

aMala

ysia

Mexico

New Zealand

South Afri

caSwed

enSwitz

erland

UAE

USA

Power DistancePower Distance

"Crew members should not question the decision of the Captain except when they threaten the safety of the flight"

(N=1830; 1= Disagree Strongly, 5= Agree Strongly)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Austra

liaBelg

ium

Brazil

Britain

Canad

aFr

ance

German

yHoll

and

Irelan

d

India Italy

Jamaic

aMala

ysia

Mexico

New Ze

aland

South

Africa

Sweden

Switzerl

and

UAE

USA

Uncertainty AvoidanceUncertainty Avoidance"Written procedures are necessary for all in-flight situations"

(N=1830; 1= Disagree Strongly, 5= Agree Strongly)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Australia

Belgium

Brazil

Britain

Canada

France

German

yHolla

ndIre

land

India

Italy

Jamaic

aMala

ysia

Mexico

New Zealand

South Afri

caSwed

enSwitz

erland

UAE

USA

Individualism vs CollectivismIndividualism vs Collectivism"If I percieve a problem with the flight, I will speak up, regardless of who

might be affected"

6 31 59

522

1437

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly

Masculinity vs FeminismMasculinity vs Feminism"Pilots should be aware of and sensitive to the personal problems of

other crew members"

43

239

464

921

388

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly

Masculinity vs FeminismMasculinity vs Feminism"Pilots should be aware of and sensitive to the personal problems of

other crew members"(N=1830; 1= Disagree Strongly, 5= Agree Strongly)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Australia

Belgium

Brazil

Britain

Canada

France

German

yHolla

ndIre

land

India

Italy

Jamaic

aMala

ysia

Mexico

New Zealand

South Afri

caSwed

enSwitz

erland

UAE

USA

AgeAge

"The Captain should take physical control and fly the aircraft in emergency and non normal situations"

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Disagree Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

20's

30's

40's50's

60's

Culture & CRM Culture & CRM

• Power Gradient affects the following: – Leadership/followership– Assertiveness– Communication– Error Prevention and Detection– Stress – Conflict Management

• Power Gradient affects the following: – Leadership/followership– Assertiveness– Communication– Error Prevention and Detection– Stress – Conflict Management

Culture & CRMCulture & CRM

• Uncertainty Avoidance influences: – Risk Management– SOP Adherence– Decision making– Stress– Automation Use

• Uncertainty Avoidance influences: – Risk Management– SOP Adherence– Decision making– Stress– Automation Use

Culture & CRMCulture & CRM

• Individualism vs Collectivism: – Leadership– Assertiveness– Workload Management– Stress

• Masculinity vs Feminism: – Leadership– Team Behaviour & Synergy

• Individualism vs Collectivism: – Leadership– Assertiveness– Workload Management– Stress

• Masculinity vs Feminism: – Leadership– Team Behaviour & Synergy

Safety cultureSafety culture

• Informed• Reporting• Just• Flexible• Learning

• Informed• Reporting• Just• Flexible• Learning

CRM Consideration

• Command: Accountable and responsible for the safe and efficient operation of aircraft

• CRM: Use of all resources to achieve safe and efficient operations

• Therefore combine the two –accountable and responsible to use all resources

• Command: Accountable and responsible for the safe and efficient operation of aircraft

• CRM: Use of all resources to achieve safe and efficient operations

• Therefore combine the two –accountable and responsible to use all resources

SummarySummary

• Knowledge of the workforce is a must.• Aligning the training program to meet

the needs of the operator and the organisational demands.

• All forms of culture need to be addressed.

• Safety culture remains the priority.

• Knowledge of the workforce is a must.• Aligning the training program to meet

the needs of the operator and the organisational demands.

• All forms of culture need to be addressed.

• Safety culture remains the priority.

Thank you for your time. Thank you for your time.

Lex Rock Heemstralrheemstra@emirates.com

Lex Rock Heemstralrheemstra@emirates.com