Crowd disasters
A socio-technical systems perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13041267 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rose Challenger (University of Leeds, corresponding author), Chris Clegg (Leeds Beckett University) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 343-360 |
| Publication date | 2011-11-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Contemporary Social Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2158-2041 • E-ISSN: 2158-205X |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/21582041.2011.619862 |
| OpenAlex | W2055601989 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 10 |
| References cited | 28 |
We present a socio-technical systems framework and underlying principles to help understand a sample of crowd-related disasters. Our approach is founded on the premise that disasters result from complex systems failures, wherein a series of interdependent factors combine in such a way as to cause problems. We explore the explanatory power of our approach by analysing three incidents; Hillsborough football stadium disaster (1989), King's Cross underground fire (1987), and Bradford City stadium fire (1985). We find a common set of fundamental, interrelated issues and consistent violations of our socio-technical design principles. We conclude by discussing how our framework, principles and socio-technical thinking more generally, may contribute to theory and practice. Notes In this instance, end-users are the individuals delivering the systems (police, stewards) rather than the recipients (fans). Whilst this idea about tackling problems at source may appear to contradict earlier suggestions for the need to call the fire brigade immediately, we are not advocating one course of action over the other, but rather the importance of doing both. This practice of requesting expert help and then attempting to address the issue at source is common in sailing, for example
Perspective (graphical · Political science · Sociology · Computer Science · Evacuation and Crowd Dynamics · Infrastructure Resilience and Vulnerability Analysis · Supply Chain Resilience and Risk Management
Applying a Systems Thinking Approach to Circular Economy Transitions
Towards a user-focused office building-system functionality for post-earthquake functional recovery
Characteristics of crowd disaster
Understanding the technical and social paradoxes of learning management systems usage in higher education
Contextualising the crowd in contemporary social science
Sensemaking Capability and Socio-Technical Arrangement in Reinforcing Smes’ Resilience
Using socio-technical systems theory to study the health information management workforce in Australian acute hospitals
Talking about Hillsborough
Digital Heritage from a Socio-Technical Systems Perspective
Managing to avert disaster
| Citations per year | 0.67 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2011 - 2026 (16) |
| Highly cited | No |