Systems Perspective Outcomes from Aerospace Failure Investigations

Abstract

Many tools are available for managing complexity in the development of large aerospace systems. Complexity manifests in components, software and so many possible human interactions that all the operational states of the system are not predicted ahead of time. System behaviors are seemingly unexpected, unpredictable, and often unwanted. However, finding these failure modes before they happen can be done by techniques that are qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, used situationally, as needed for each particular circumstance. Through studies of failure investigations from NASA and the aerospace industry, recommendations coalesce on using a systems perspective to increase communication and reduce the risk of failure. Overall, a consistent outcome of these investigations is the suggestion to listen to as many value-added perspectives as possible. Preventing failures in operation is managed by improving collaboration within and among teams, which is an effective way to reveal those perspectives, through both formal and informal communication techniques properly contextualized.