Vaughan unveils the complicated and high-pressure world of air
traffic controllers as they navigate technology and political and
public climates, and shows how they keep the skies so safe. When
two airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center towers on
September 11, 2001, Americans watched in uncomprehending shock as
first responders struggled to react to the situation on the ground.
Congruently, another remarkable and heroic feat was taking place in
the air: more than six hundred and fifty air traffic control
facilities across the country coordinated their efforts to ground
four thousand flights in just two hours—an achievement all the
more impressive considering the unprecedented nature of the task.
In Dead Reckoning, Diane Vaughan explores the complex work of air
traffic controllers, work that is built upon a close relationship
between human organizational systems and technology and is
remarkably safe given the high level of risk. Vaughan observed the
distinct skill sets of air traffic controllers and the ways their
workplaces changed to adapt to technological developments and
public and political pressures. She chronicles the ways these
forces affected their jobs, from their relationships with one
another and the layouts of their workspace to their understanding
of their job and its place in society. The result is a nuanced and
engaging look at an essential role that demands great coordination,
collaboration, and focus—a role that technology will likely never
be able to replace. Even as the book conveys warnings about complex
systems and the liabilities of technological and organizational
innovation, it shows the kinds of problem-solving solutions that
evolved over time and the importance of people.
General
Imprint: |
University of Chicago Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
December 2022 |
First published: |
2021 |
Authors: |
Diane Vaughan
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152 x 38mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
640 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-226-82657-8 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
0-226-82657-0 |
Barcode: |
9780226826578 |
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