11: Culture and High Reliability - Bierly and Spender (Part 1)

In 'Normal Accidents', Charles Perrow argues that accidents in complex and tightly coupled systems are inevitable and cannot be entirely prevented. He identifies three key conditions that make a system susceptible to such accidents: complexity, tight coupling, and catastrophic potential. Perrow uses case studies from various industries, including nuclear power plants, aviation, and chemical processing, to illustrate how multiple and unexpected failures can interact and lead to major accidents. The book challenges the conventional engineering approach to safety and highlights the role of organizational and management factors in technological failures.