The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error

Why I recommend it

Dekker asks what made an action seem reasonable at the time. That’s a useful place to begin when we want to learn from a mistake.

What it changed in my thinking

If the explanation stops at one person’s error, we may not yet understand what happened.

Who it’s useful for

Leaders and teams reviewing incidents or improving safety.

A tension or limitation

Looking at the system doesn’t remove personal responsibility. It helps us respond in ways that can prevent the next mistake.