What defines a High-Reliability Organization?

A High-Reliability Organization (HRO) is characterized by its focus on safety and operational reliability through a systems approach. This means that HROs actively engage in understanding and managing complex systems, recognizing that many elements interact in ways that can lead to error or failure. They prioritize the identification of potential risks and implement measures to enhance safety and reliability.

In contrast to the other choices, a systems approach promotes a culture of continuous improvement, learning from everyday operations and near-misses to prevent accidents. It involves comprehensive training, rigorous processes, and the adaptation of protocols to manage uncertainty and variability. By embedding safety into the very fabric of their operational practices, HROs can maintain high standards of reliability, even in complex and high-stakes environments.

This focus on systems and safety is a fundamental principle that distinguishes HROs from organizations that may prioritize profits, favor manual operations over automation without consideration of overall efficiency, or ignore human factors that contribute to errors. All these factors underscore the systematic and proactive culture of safety that defines High-Reliability Organizations.