The link between specialization and resilience in the organizational design literature is oftentimes characterized as a trade-off: either organizations attune their structures to a narrow class of external stimuli, or they choose the ability to manage a wide variety of inputs, thus increasing their ability to survive. Mixed behaviours are typically described in terms of compromise and lack of coherence. In this paper, we study the reliable and robust actions implemented in a volatile environment: we analysed the flying abilities and learning paths of pilots in the Italian Air Force. We show that in order to provide reliability and robustness, both high specialization and broad scope systems are required; expertise and learning are built across these areas which are traditionally described as segregated. In fact, the usefulness of such systems rests on their capability to buy time for processing and for finding appropriate or new solutions in volatile situation.

Resilience and specialization in volatile environments: evidence from the Italian Air Force Tornado crews learning practices

Frigotto, Maria Laura;Zamarian, Marco
2013-01-01

Abstract

The link between specialization and resilience in the organizational design literature is oftentimes characterized as a trade-off: either organizations attune their structures to a narrow class of external stimuli, or they choose the ability to manage a wide variety of inputs, thus increasing their ability to survive. Mixed behaviours are typically described in terms of compromise and lack of coherence. In this paper, we study the reliable and robust actions implemented in a volatile environment: we analysed the flying abilities and learning paths of pilots in the Italian Air Force. We show that in order to provide reliability and robustness, both high specialization and broad scope systems are required; expertise and learning are built across these areas which are traditionally described as segregated. In fact, the usefulness of such systems rests on their capability to buy time for processing and for finding appropriate or new solutions in volatile situation.
2013
Trento
Università degli Studi di Trento. Dipartimento di Economia e Management.
Frigotto, Maria Laura; Zamarian, Marco
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/68504
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact