COLLECTIVE MIND IN ORGANIZATIONS - HEEDFUL INTERRELATING ON FLIGHT DECKS

The concept of collective mind is developed to explain organizational performance in situations requiring nearly continuous operational reli ability. Collective mind is conceptualized as a pattern of heedful int errelations of actions in a social system. Actors in the system constr uct their actions (contributions), understanding that the system consi sts of connected actions by themselves and others (representation), an d interrelate their actions within the system (subordination). Ongoing variation in the heed with which individual contributions, representa tions, and subordinations are interrelated influences comprehension of unfolding events and the incidence of errors. As heedful interrelatin g and mindful comprehension increase, organizational errors decrease. Flight operations on aircraft carriers exemplify the constructs presen ted. Implications for organization theory and practice are drawn.