FRAM, the functional resonance analysis method : modelling complex socio-technical systems / by Erik Hollnagel.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Cover -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Prologue -- 1 The Need -- A State of (Relative) Ignorance -- Ignorance, Complexity and Intractability -- Systems Redefined -- From Probability to Variability -- Conclusions -- Comments on Chapter 1 -- 2 The Intellectual Background -- The Naturalness of Linear Thinking -- Simple Linear Thinking -- Complex Linear Thinking -- Dynamic Systems and Parallel Developments -- The Second Cybernetics -- Conclusions -- Comments on Chapter 2 -- 3 The Principles -- The Equivalence of Failures and Successes -- The Approximate Adjustments -- Emergence -- Resonance -- Conclusions -- Comments on Chapter 3 -- 4 The Method: Preliminaries -- Looking For What Should Go Right -- Step 0: Recognise the Purpose of the FRAM Analysis -- Comments on Chapter 4 -- 5 The Method: Identify and Describe the Functions (Step 1) -- How Can the Functions Be Identified? -- The Six Aspects -- Issues in the Description of Functions -- Comments on Chapter 5 -- 6 The Method: The Identification of Variability (Step 2) -- Variability of Different Types of Functions -- Manifestations (Phenotypes) of Performance Variability -- 7 The Method: The Aggregation of Variability (Step 3) -- Functional Upstream-Downstream Coupling -- Upstream-Downstream Coupling for Preconditions -- Upstream-Downstream Coupling for Resources or Execution Conditions -- Upstream-Downstream Coupling for Control -- Upstream-Downstream Coupling for Time -- Upstream-Downstream Coupling for Input -- Issues in Upstream-Downstream Coupling -- Comments on Chapter 7 -- 8 The Method: Consequences of the Analysis (Step 4) -- Elimination, Prevention, Protection and Facilitation -- Monitoring (Performance Indicators) -- Dampening -- What About Quantification? -- Comments on Chapter 8 -- 9 Three Cases -- 'Duk i buk' (The Sponge in the Abdomen).

Herald of Free Enterprise Car Ferry Disaster -- A Financial System -- Comments on the Cases -- Comments on Chapter 9 -- 10 Afterthoughts -- The FRAM: A Method But Not a Model -- Methods That Rely on Strong Models -- Articulated Model or Articulated Method? -- Scale Invariance -- Comments on Chapter 10 -- 11 FRAM on FRAM -- Index.

There has not yet been a comprehensive method that goes behind 'human error' and beyond the failure concept, and various complicated accidents have accentuated the need for it. The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) fulfils that need. This book presents a detailed and tested method that can be used to model how complex and dynamic socio-technical systems work, and understand both why things sometimes go wrong but also why they normally succeed.

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