Beyond Pilot Error: The Effects of Corporate Culture and Individual Sensemaking at Acme Community Air Service

Abstract

In this research study we examine the corporate culture of an aviation organization and how that culture and individual sensemaking influence flight crew safety decision-making in a less-than-optimal, high-workload environment. A quantitative methodology (content analysis) and two qualitative approaches (focused and individual interviews) as well as observation are employed in the study. We conclude flight crews clearly understand the corporate cultural expectations and that such expectations
frame individual sensemaking and decision processes especially when crews are faced with mission variances. The research methodology used in this study provided the researchers a rich set of data that made clearer the link between corporate culture and individual decision-making processes.