The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Engineering X community has published a new report which looks at lessons that can be learned from failures in complex systems. By incorporating lessons learned from previous failures into their governance frameworks, organizations can ensure safer and more resilient operations in complex systems.
Written by Professor David Denyer and Professor Colin Pilbeam, ‘Learning from failures in complex systems: embracing rules and principles in practice for effective governance’ identifies 18 categories of safety practices to prevent
future failures in complex systems. These categories ‘encompass various dimensions, including maintenance, design, communication, leadership, quality management, risk management, training, compliance, human factors, organizational learning, decision-making, employee wellbeing, processes, resource management, change management, incident response, and continuous improvement’.
The report says that when it comes to the governance of complex systems it is important to understand that safety practices can manifest as rules or principles, offering distinct approaches to guide decision-making and behaviour within the governance structure. Rules-based practices are more straightforward to implement when compared to principles-based practices but those entrusted with the task of governance should avoid an exclusive emphasis on rules, as this can limit the adaptability that principles provide. Recognising when to prescribe specific rules and when to convey broader principles carries significant implications for the formulation of recommendations, governance strategies, and regulatory frameworks within complex systems.
