[119065] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: Human Factors and Accident reduction/mitigation
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Robert Boyle)
Thu Nov 5 18:16:21 2009
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:14:01 -0500
To: Owen DeLong <owen@delong.com>,Joe Greco <jgreco@ns.sol.net>
From: Robert Boyle <robert@tellurian.com>
In-Reply-To: <550BABDF-1A67-414D-8676-A875F16A93BF@delong.com>
Cc: North American Network Operators Group <Nanog@merit.edu>
Errors-To: nanog-bounces+nanog.discuss=bloom-picayune.mit.edu@nanog.org
At 09:20 AM 11/5/2009, Owen DeLong wrote:
>Regarding Reliability and Availability:
>
>We could learn a lot about this from Aviation.
Owen,
I think if we conducted a poll, a=20
disproportionate percentage of NANOG folks are=20
likely also pilots (compared to the general=20
population anyway) I agree with you completely=20
that aviation is a good model to follow if it is adapted where it makes=
sense.
All,
The real problem is same human factors we have in=20
aviation which cause most accidents. Look at the=20
list below and replace the word Pilot with=20
Network Engineer or Support Tech or Programmer or=20
whatever... and think about all the problems=20
where something didn't work out right. It's=20
because someone circumvented the rules,=20
processes, and cross checks put in place to=20
prevent the problem in the first place. Nothing=20
can be made idiot proof because idiots are so creative.
-Robert
SEL/MEL Private Instrument
Listed here:
THE FIVE HAZARDOUS ATTITUDES
1. Anti-Authority:
"Don't tell me."
This attitude is found in people who do not like=20
anyone telling them what to do. In a sense, they
are saying, "No one can tell me what to do." They=20
may be resentful of having someone tell them
what to do, or may regard rules, regulations, and=20
procedures as silly or unnecessary. However, it
is always your prerogative to question authority if you feel it is in error.
2. Impulsivity:
"Do it quickly."
This is the attitude of people who frequently=20
feel the need to do something, anything, immediately.
They do not stop to think about what they are=20
about to do; they do not select the best alternative,
and they do the first thing that comes to mind.
3. Invulnerability:
"It won't happen to me."
Many people feel that accidents happen to others,=20
but never to them. They know accidents can
happen, and they know that anyone can be=20
affected. They never really feel or believe that they will
be personally involved. Pilots who think this way=20
are more likely to take chances and increase risk.
4. Macho:
"I can do it."
Pilots who are always trying to prove that they=20
are better than anyone else are thinking, "I can do it
=96I'll show them." Pilots with this type of=20
attitude will try to prove themselves by taking risks in order
to impress others. While this pattern is thought=20
to be a male characteristic, women are equally
susceptible.
5. Resignation:
"What's the use?"
Pilots who think, "What's the use?" do not see=20
themselves as being able to make a great deal of
difference in what happens to them. When things=20
go well, the pilot is apt to think that it is good luck.
When things go badly, the pilot may feel that=20
someone is out to get me, or attribute it to bad luck.
The pilot will leave the action to others, for=20
better or worse. Sometimes, such pilots will even go
along with unreasonable requests just to be a "nice guy."
Tellurian Networks - A Dell Perot Systems Company
http://www.tellurian.com | 888-TELLURIAN | 973-300-9211
"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin
