Crew Resource Management – A Concept for Teams in Critical Situations.

Background. It seems unbalanced: Much is known about training and optimal teamwork in the domain of civil and military aviation. This sector is famous for high-reliability operations, clear andefficient communication, roles and processes that support decision makers and teams, and systems that are designed with respect to human factors. Contrariwise similar civil sectors, namely medicine and crisis command units, discover only slowly the need and benefits of specialised teammanagement approaches for units in high stress-level situations with severe consequences of possible errors. Aim. To describe the Crew Resource Management (CRM) approach as developed in aviation in such a generalised way that allows its adaption and implementation in other high-stake sectors.Methods. The effects of human errors in complex socio-technical systems are explained asfoundation for the application and limitations of CRM. Then core elements of CRM are summarised based on a meta-analysis of evaluative studies, relevant CRM literature, and corresponding insightfrom psychology and behavioural science. Limitations are discussed, such as intercultural barriers andsurrounding organisational requirements. Conclusion. CRM concepts can be described on a high but practical level that makes them availableto many other fields of application. Especially medical teams and crisis command units on all levels can profit when they are properly trained not only in their technical duties but also in team management skills. Immediate benefit can be a higher reliability in decisions, reduced error rate and maintenance of precious human resources on the long term.

Keywords:

Crew Resource Management , Safety Culture , Human Error , Disaster Management , Decision Making , Leadership , Professional Communication