Breaking the glass ceiling: Levers to promote the influence of human and organizational factors in high-risk industries

Abstract

A growing gap is emerging between the increase in human and organizational factors (HOF) expertise and the success of HOF operational approaches, and the rather weak influence of HOF at the strategic level of organizations. This chapter seeks to understand this paradox and identify some levers to promote HOF influence. We assume that (1) the paradox is an outcome of the “long road” of evolutions in HOF knowledge and its experts over forty years; (2) these evolutions have multiplied concepts and practices without a clear global coherence and without a political and institutional agenda; (3) breaking the HOF “glass ceiling” requires action on several levers at the conceptual level, the professional level, the management level and finally at political and institutional levels.