We started this map as an exercise in mapping, which is an important part of a systems innovation practice. You can view it here on Kumu.
We set out to demonstrate the value of seeing rather than reading as a mindset-changing tool. In this case, seeing the combined wisdom of the authors and hundreds of contributors to 11 reports about harm@work in Aotearoa over the last decade versus the 257 harm causality and response suggestions in the reports.
Hopefully, it will become one input into an informed conversation about harm@work and helping people be safe@work in Aotearoa through health, safety and wellbeing practices that is happening as we speak.
It is envisaged the use cases for this map are,
A policy adviser wants to provide evidence-based, impactful advice about causality and responses in the scenario of a Minister looking to make upstream changes in the system.
A convenor of a collaboration of system actors who wants to help people see the system and then discuss their choices of the work to do individually and collectively in the scenario of triggering collective impact.
A business leader wants to implement better harm reduction practices in their firm and see the responses that are closest to them and their people in the scenario of making informed, practical choices.
On that note, we have significant empathy for people owning and leading firms and the many challenges they face daily, of which harm@work is only one. Without these people, we won't be who we are as a country. With these people, we believe we can collectively make a difference for the workers at risk, as leaders are central to the changes we seek.
About the Map
This map visualises a meta-analysis regarding the causality of workplace harm in Aotearoa and the responses to it. The analysis is of 11 reports about our workplace harm performance and what we should do about it, dating back to 2013.
The map is centred on the worker at the moment of risk. The concentric circles depict the work moment, the firm, the work system, and the wider society. We have indicated some of the critical system states, key interconnections, and delays.
The harm cause scaling is the relative number of mentions within a categorisation across the 146 causality mentions in the various reports. Some adjustments to the original report texts have been made to frame each point in the context of causality.
The response data is the solutions or responses mentioned in the same reports and is scaled in the same manner over the 112 suggested responses.
The workplace harm situation is complex. This map is an abstract and made simple to aid comprehension and, therefore, value to various users.
About the Reports
The data is the problem or system dynamics and response findings from,
Four sector-based workplace harm discovery projects that are not in the public domain that Martin has worked on with others
Three FutureSafe Aotearoa projects
Two Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum reports
Health and Safety at Work Strategy 2018-2028.
The Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety 2013
We recognise that there are many more pieces of work in this area over and above what was used in this analysis. We'd be interested if those authors have seen similar patterns.
Thank you for your time and interest in advancing systems innovation practices and in helping our people be Safe@Work.
Martin Grant & Howard Lange
Comments