Understanding Organizational Vulnerabilities in Military Taskforces

Abstract

In this chapter, the relevance of a perspective on organizational vulnerability for improving safety in military taskforces is outlined. Research of the Netherlands Defence Academy has shown that military taskforces are systems with typical organizational vulnerabilities. More specifically, this research has shown that military taskforces had difficulties in developing and maintaining functional integration. This chapter analyzes whether the safety management system of the Netherlands Defence organization is useful for understanding such organizational vulnerabilities. After the conclusion that this focus on organizational vulnerabilities is lacking in this safety management system, existing theories on safety in organizations are analyzed. Based on a combination of insights from these theories, a theoretical avenue for understanding such vulnerabilities is proposed.