Breaking the clay layer

Breaking the clay layer: The role of middle managers in safety management

Rezvani, Z. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science)

Hudson, P.T.W. (promotor)

Delft University of Technology

2018-02-02

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of middle management in safety within hazardous industries such as the oil and gas industries. In so doing, the study has answered the main research question, what are the roles and responsibilities of middle managers in risk management and safety oriented decision-making? To achieve the objectives of safety management, which are primarily the protection of personnel, environment and assets, it is essential to understand the organisational context. An organisation is constructed from different layers of management with interlinked and complex roles. Middle management, who occupy the middle-level positions, is a fundamental management level in an organisation because they are informed managers, operating between people who have a narrow vision which is limited by their own segments, typically front line operatives, and the top/central executive management, who have a broad picture of an organisation that may be unclear as a result of their distance from the operation.

middle manager
Decision making
roles
Safety management
consensus decision-making
organisational decision-making
safety-related decision-making
parallel decision-making

https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:2e988560-de75-4933-8b6b-f52b31289423

9789461868855

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

© 2018 Z. Rezvani