TY - CHAP
T1 - Working practices and safety culture in nuclear power plant operations (WOPS)
T2 - Contextual assessment of organisational culture - methodological development in two case studies
AU - Reiman, Teemu
AU - Oedewald, Pia
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Despite the acknowledged significance of organisational culture in the
nuclear field, previous cultural studies have concentrated on purely safety
related matters, or been only descriptive in nature. New kinds of methods,
taking into account the overall objectives of the organisation, were needed
to assess culture and develop its working practices appropriately. VTT
developed the Contextual Assessment of Organisational Culture (CAOC)
methodology during the FINNUS programme. The methodology utilises two
concepts, organisational culture and core task. The core task can be defined
as the core demands and content of work that the organisation has to
accomplish in order to be effective. The core task concept is used in
assessing the central dimensions of the organisation's culture.
Organisational culture is defined as a solution the company has generated in
order to fulfil the perceived demands of its core task. The CAOC-methodology
was applied in two case studies, in the Radiation and Nuclear Safety
Authority of Finland and in the maintenance unit of Loviisa NPP. The aim of
the studies was not only to assess the given culture, but also to give the
personnel new concepts and new tools for reflecting on their organisation,
their jobs and on appropriate working practices. The CAOC-methodology
contributes to the design and redesign of work in complex sociotechnical
systems. It strives to enhance organisations' capability to assess their
current working practices and the meanings attached to them and compare
these to the actual demands of their basic mission and so change unadaptive
practices.
AB - Despite the acknowledged significance of organisational culture in the
nuclear field, previous cultural studies have concentrated on purely safety
related matters, or been only descriptive in nature. New kinds of methods,
taking into account the overall objectives of the organisation, were needed
to assess culture and develop its working practices appropriately. VTT
developed the Contextual Assessment of Organisational Culture (CAOC)
methodology during the FINNUS programme. The methodology utilises two
concepts, organisational culture and core task. The core task can be defined
as the core demands and content of work that the organisation has to
accomplish in order to be effective. The core task concept is used in
assessing the central dimensions of the organisation's culture.
Organisational culture is defined as a solution the company has generated in
order to fulfil the perceived demands of its core task. The CAOC-methodology
was applied in two case studies, in the Radiation and Nuclear Safety
Authority of Finland and in the maintenance unit of Loviisa NPP. The aim of
the studies was not only to assess the given culture, but also to give the
personnel new concepts and new tools for reflecting on their organisation,
their jobs and on appropriate working practices. The CAOC-methodology
contributes to the design and redesign of work in complex sociotechnical
systems. It strives to enhance organisations' capability to assess their
current working practices and the meanings attached to them and compare
these to the actual demands of their basic mission and so change unadaptive
practices.
M3 - Chapter or book article
SN - 951-38-6085-X
T3 - VTT Tiedotteita - Research Notes
SP - 251
EP - 260
BT - FINNUS: The Finnish Research Programme on Nuclear Power Plant Safety 1999-2002
PB - VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
CY - Espoo
ER -