ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on an exploration of complexity in relation to the impact of Integrated Operations (IO) on safety. The assumption is that complexity can have a detrimental impact on safety. The chapter looks at the relationship between IO, complexity, resilience and risk assessment. It takes as a starting point the assumption that IO may inherently increase system dynamics and complexity, thereby making future system states more difficult to predict. Large socio-technical systems, where IO is of most interest, are characterized by a large number of diverse combinations of both human and technical components and a certain degree of complexity. The shortcomings of traditional approaches become apparent when human and/or organizational issues are included in risk assessments of complex systems, unusual situations and rare circumstances. The chapter shows that IO can encourage organizations to deal with known risks in a way that neglects the impact of change in new operational environments.
