The Safety of Work Ep.24 How did David Woods discover the theory of graceful extensibility?
Apr 25, 2020
David Woods, a resilience engineering researcher and professor, discusses his groundbreaking theory of graceful extensibility. He delves into how this theory emerged from decades of research and historical incidents, like the Columbia disaster. Woods applies these concepts to the challenges faced in healthcare during COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of anticipating surprises and the need for proactive learning. He highlights the risks of system decompensation and the necessity for organizations to adapt swiftly to maintain resilience while balancing complexity and resource limitations.
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Surprise Is Continuous, Not Rare
- Surprise is continuous because resources are finite and change never stops.
- Viability requires the capacity to extend beyond normal operations when surprises hit.
Anticipation From Early Studies
- Woods recounts early nuclear and operating-room studies showing anticipation and saturation.
- Anesthesiologists invest extra effort to anticipate bottlenecks ahead of time.
Frontline Work Bridges The Gap
- Frontline workers bridge gaps between 'work as imagined' and 'work as done'.
- Resilience emerges from these adaptive, often invisible, frontline practices.