Options
The sinking of the unsinkable Titanic: Mental inertia and coordination failures
Author(s)
Date Issued
2012
Series/Report no.
Working paper series.;
Journal
ISSN
0167-2533
1875-8703
Citation
Human Systems Management, 2012, vol. 31(3-4), pp. 177-186.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 20-23).
23 p.
Type
Peer Reviewed Journal Article
Abstract
This study investigates the sinking of the Titanic from the theory of human agency derived from Austrian economics, interpretation sociology and organizational theories. Unlike most arguments in organizational and management sciences, this study offers a subjectivist perspective of mental inertia to understand the Titanic disaster. Specifically, this study will argue that the fall of the Titanic was mainly due to a series of coordination and judgment failures that occurred simultaneously. Such systematic failures were manifested in the misinterpretations of the incoming events, as a result of mental inertia, by all parties concerned in the fatal accident, including lookouts, telegram officers, the Captain, lifeboat crewmen, architects, engineers, senior management people and owners of the ship. This study concludes that no matter how successful the past is, we should not take experience for granted entirely. Given the uncertain future, high alertness to potential dangers and crises will allow us to avoid iceberg mines in the sea and arrived onshore safely.
File(s)
Loading...
Name
Working Paper_2012_September_Yu.pdf
Size
298.75 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(not present)
(MD5):0482d9f72e6b0479a683ffae7b5a09f4
Loading...
Availability at HKSYU Library
