Applying Attribution Theory to Perceptions of Maintenance Error
Date
2007-02-16T11:47:07Z
Authors
Cajee, Muhammad Yousuf
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Abstract
Before this study took place, the social psychology perspective of Attribution
theory was yet to be fully utilised in South African research within the
maintenance error landscape.
Attributional approaches see the person on the street operating like a scientist,
obtaining information from his or her social surroundings and discerning the
causes and consequences of ongoing behavioural and environmental events
(Harvey et.al.,1976). It is very possible that due to the unique South African
socio-political and economic landscape, strongly influenced by Apartheid, new
combinations of known and unknown error attributions are at play, that are
unique to this landscape and have not yet been studied or uncovered. Thus, a
better understanding of the South African landscape, through a study such as
this, could have serious cost benefits to maintenance companies, benefits to staff
in terms of reduced risk of injury, as well as form the basis of improved policies,
procedures and equipment.
Twenty-five team leaders and 125 minor maintenance staff at a South African
Aircraft Maintenance Company formed the population group from which the
sample for this study was drawn. Within each group, 5 individuals were
interviewed on a personal basis. Further, for each group, one focus group was
carried out consisting of two and four individuals respectively. The individuals
who participated in the focus groups were different to those who participated in
the interviews. In total 28 percent of team leaders participated in the study and 7
percent of maintenance staff, which calculates to just over 10 percent of minor
maintenance employees at the organisation involved.
The Qualitative data acquired through this in-depth interview and focus group
discussion process, and subsequent transcription was coded and analysed using
Thematic Content Analysis. Content analysis is a research technique for making
replicable and valid inferences from data to their context (Krippendorf, 1980).
The discussion of primary error attributions comparing maintenance staff and
team leaders, focussed on the predominant primary error attribution theme and
related attributions under the descriptor Organisational Culture which included
both the dimensions of employee motivation and managerial culture. Finally,
results of secondary error attributions comparing maintenance staff and team
leaders raised the discussion around the theme, Tools and Equipment.
This research is an exploratory study that brings together the field of attribution
theory and maintenance error. Its main strength is that it provides a theoretical
framework, upon which is based a methodology that explores the primary and
secondary error attributions made by employees for maintenance errors in their
work environment. In other words, it is felt that this methodology can be
implemented in a range of maintenance environments to unearth the error
attributions of staff in that environment. Information such as this is very beneficial
to companies and organisations in their planning, strategising, problem solving
and general organisational development.
Description
Student Number : 9802206M -
MA dissertation -
School of Psychology -
Faculty of Humanities
Keywords
attribution theory, perceptions, maintenance error, human factors, aircraft, aviation, error investigation