A Human Factors Approach to the Analysis and Prevention of Destructive Behaviors in the Workplace
Abstract
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASEA Human Factors Approach to the Analysis and Prevention of Destructive Behaviors in the WorkplaceDestructive behaviors (DBs) in the workplace, such as incivility, racism, bullying, hazing, sexual harassment, and physical assault can degrade morale and combat readiness. They also do significant harm to our sailors and their families, as do other tragic forms of DBs, such as attempted and completed suicides. Unfortunately, DBs have risen seemingly unabated over the past several years in the fleet.This is largely due to the difficulty that psychological and scientific communities have had with identifying and mitigating human factors that foster DBs. Specifically, the tools and procedures in place for investigating the genesis of these behaviors have oftenproven ill-suited for the task. Moreover, investigations of DBs tend to lack the standards and quality control measures necessary to go beyond merely describing "what" happened, to include an understanding of "why" they occurred.To help remedy this problem, members of our research team have been exploring the potential value that a novel human factors tool, proven effective in supporting operational readiness in other domains, might have in analyzing and mitigating DBs. The original tool is known as the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). However, when adapted for use in the investigation, evaluation, and mitigation of DBs it is called HFACS-Workplace Behaviors or "HFACS-WB."The goal of this project is to further adapt and validate the HFACS-WB tool for use in the analysis and prevention DBs. Using a mixed methods approach, we will examine a large set of DB cases (i.e., substantiated sexual harassment reports and/or cases of attempted suicides) over a specified calendar year of events (i.e., 2020, 2021,2022, etc.) involving U.S. Navy personnel. Analyses of the data will involve the systematic triangulation of both structured (quantitative) and unstructured (qualitative) data within these datasets using HFACS-WB as the integrative and unifying framework. Results of these analyses will test the validity of the HFACS-WB model, to extent to which its utilization yields novel insights into why DBs continue to occur in the fleet. Such a deeper understanding of these underlying systemic root causes of DBs could enable senior leaders to develop data-driven policies, programs, practices, and processes (P^4s) that target and ultimately eliminate the causes of DBs and improve combat readiness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 29, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312554
Entities
People
- Douglas Wiegmann
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Wisconsin System