Safety in Operational Teams
Overview
This unit examines how safety, operations and teamwork shape performance in safety-critical and high-reliability organisations, with a focus on aviation. Students will analyse Safety Management Systems, their ICAO foundations, origins and implementation, and compare competing approaches to safety management and operational decision-making. Through landmark aviation case studies and contemporary debates, students will evaluate safety challenges in high-reliability operations and integrate theory, evidence and current practice in clear written communication. The unit prepares students to think critically about how safety is understood, managed and challenged across aviation and other complex industries.
Requisites
30-May-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically appraise the concept of safety in complex operational environments
- Analyse the origins and evolution of safety systems
- Evaluate organisational challenges in high reliability operations and their implications for safety management
- Analyse the structure, purpose and components of Safety Management Systems
- Compare and critically analyse differing approaches to safety management
- Formulate evidence-informed strategies for implementing Safety Management System elements
- Integrate theory, analysis and current practice in clear, evidence-informed written communications on Safety Management Systems
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Live Online Class |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Assignment | Individual | 15 - 25% | 1,2,3 |
| Written Assignment | Individual | 35 - 45% | 1,2,3,4,7 |
| Written Assignment | Individual | 35 - 45% | 3,5,6,7 |
Hurdle
To pass this unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must:
(i) complete all assignments; and
(ii) achieve an aggregate mark of 50% or higher.
Students who do not meet hurdle requirements will receive a maximum of 45% for the unit.
Content
- ICAO Safety Management Systems
- Safety systems: origins, principles and implementation
- Competing approaches to safety management
- Theories and perspectives on human error
- Operational performance: perspectives beyond incidents and accidents
- Organisational theory and culture
- Crew Resource Management
- Team decision-making
- Landmark aviation case studies
- Safety I, Safety II and future directions
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.