As a Research Fellow in the Department of Computer Science I consider myself not to be a Computer Scientist, but a Safety Scientist. The recent paper “A manifesto for Reality-based Safety Science” resonated deeply with me, and I take immense pride in being able to impart the latest developments and approaches to the clients I have as an Independent Consultant
This ‘best of both worlds’ is sometimes threatened by a double-edged sword…and occasionally there isn’t so much a double-edged contrast of positive and negative…sometimes there is just a full frontal sword attack. The concept of reality-based safety science is vital for those of us that have feet in both academia and industry, and I am in a fortunate position to be able instil and promote its ethos. But occasionally, those we seek to help can appear to readily dismiss advice out of hand.
The most commonly faced retort as a consultant is “But that wouldn’t work round here”, or even “we don’t do things like that here” (yes, this is STILL being said). I’m aware that the erroneously held stereotype of an overpriced consultant can encourage less polite comments when out of earshot…but eroding stereotypes is not what I wish to discuss here.
As an academic, perhaps the most common repost we hear is along the lines of “Yeah, but in the real world…”, and I’m aware that this too can degenerate to talk of ivory towers and blue sky thinking when out of earshot.
Imagine what’s it like to hear retorts as both an academic AND a consultant!
I remain passionate, steadfast, and resolute in my desire and ambition to instil solid Reality Based Safety Science throughout industry AND academia, and although there are many hurdles to overcome, a lock that needs unpicking in industry is to neutralise the threat posed by such simplistic yet potentially fatal rebuttals as those noted above.
What are the causes? Perhaps one or more of the following:
- Personality (yours)
- Personality (theirs)
- Fear
- Distrust
- Lack of understanding (theirs)
- Lack of understanding (yours)
- Poorly defined problem space (root cause not identified)
- Lack of knowledge (yours)
- Lack of knowledge (theirs)
- Lack of empathy
- Etc…
…and there are innumerable causes for all of the above. It would be hugely beneficial to hear the thoughts from the following stakeholders. What do you see as the impediments to a more harmonious relationship between academia and industry and indeed between consultancy and industry?
- Academics
- Consultants (all)
- Industry representatives that have brought in either, or both of the above
- Project/Programme management
- Safety Engineers
- Systems Engineers
- Human Factors Engineers
- Requirements Engineers
- Anyone I may have missed!
Please do take the time to leave your feedback in the comments section. Let’s get the debate started. Here’s my view on some potential (systemic?) causes:
- Some academic research focusses on taking an accident/incident or fabricating a case study, before arguing why their ‘new’ idea would have prevented the accident/incident or improved the imaginary case.
- Some in industry have an inherent distrust of academia and its blue-sky thinking (perhaps because of the above).
- The ‘not invented here’ standpoint remains resolutely steadfast.
- (Open) Standards Committees that aim to assert recognised good practice do not fund academic input to the standards in which it is held (Universities – as Industry bodies – must fund membership and access to the standards they volunteer to create and/or maintain).
- Industry funding in academia may be too focussed and controlled (IPR for example).
- Lack of mutual respect and acceptance between academia and industry.
As I consider these symptoms/causes I reflect that this is written and explained much better in the Manifesto for Reality-Based Safety Science and cannot recommend highly enough how much you should read it…