The Effect of Culture on Human Factors Lex Rock Heemstra Human Factors Specialist Flight Training
Discussion 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? National Organisational Professional Safety The way we do things!!
Hofstedes 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
Helmreich & Merrit Pilot Culture Research 1993-1997 15 000 pilots 36 Airlines 23 Countries FMAQ Flight Management Attitude Questionnaire Compared Hofstedes 4 dimensions
National Culture - Hofstede 120 Greece Uncertainty Avoidance 00 80 60 40 20 Germany Switzerland Norway USA New Zealand Australia Denmark British HK Sweden Ireland Japan Argentina Korea Italy Taiwan South Africa Brazil Mexico Morocco Philippines Malaysia National Average Pilot Average 44% Pilots 20 40 60 80 100 120 Power Distance 55% Pilots
Masculinity 80 60 40 Greece Morocco Brazil Taiwan Malaysia Korea National Culture - Hofstede Mexico Philippines Japan Argentina Switzerland Italy Germany British HK Ireland South Africa USA Australia New Zealand 20 0 Denmark Norway Sweden -20-40 20 40 60 80 100 120 National Average Pilot Average 48% Pilots 53% Pilots 140 160 Individualism
Observations 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 Culture 5 20 Countries Response by Nationality (average score) 4.5 4 3.5 Score 3 2.5 2 1.5 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 30 Questions Australian UAE Belgium Brazil Canada Sw iss German French British Irish Italy Mexican Malaysia Dutch USA Sw eden New Zealand South Africa India Jamaica
USA 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Power 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) Belgium Brazil Britain Canada France Germany Holland Ireland India Italy Jamaica Malaysia Mexico New Zealand South Africa Sweden Switzerland UAE Australia
UAE USA 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Power 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) Belgium Brazil Britain Canada France Germany Holland Ireland India Italy Jamaica Malaysia Mexico New Zealand South Africa Sweden Switzerland Australia
UAE USA 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Uncertainty Avoidance "Written procedures are necessary for all in-flight situations" (N=1830; 1= Disagree Strongly, 5= Agree Strongly) Belgium Brazil Britain Canada France Germany Holland Ireland India Italy Jamaica Malaysia Mexico New Zealand South Africa Sweden Switzerland Australia
Individualism vs Collectivism "If I percieve a problem with the flight, I will speak up, regardless of who might be affected" 1600 1437 1400 1200 1000 800 600 522 400 200 0 6 31 59 Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Masculinity vs Feminism "Pilots should be aware of and sensitive to the personal problems of other crew members" 1000 900 921 800 700 600 500 464 400 388 300 239 200 100 0 43 Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
UAE USA 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Masculinity 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) Belgium Brazil Britain Canada France Germany Holland Ireland India Italy Jamaica Malaysia Mexico New Zealand South Africa Sweden Switzerland Australia
Age "The Captain should take physical control and fly the aircraft in emergency and non normal situations" 45 40 35 30 25 20 20's 30's 40's 50's 60's 15 10 5 0 Disagree Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Culture & CRM Power Gradient affects the following: Leadership/followership Assertiveness Communication Error Prevention and Detection Stress Conflict Management
Culture & CRM Uncertainty Avoidance influences: Risk Management SOP Adherence Decision making Stress Automation Use
Culture & CRM Individualism vs Collectivism: Leadership Assertiveness Workload Management Stress Masculinity vs Feminism: Leadership Team Behaviour & Synergy
Safety culture 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
Summary 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. Lex Rock Heemstra lrheemstra@emirates.com