Risk-Advised Handover

Synergia has spent several years working on the handover problem. We have developed a theoretical characterization, Organizational Risk Analysis, that synthesizes human-systems modeling with risk analysis. Based on this, we have conducted extensive empirical studies, and have developed a prototype support technology. This technology, ACCORD, enables users to easily create causal maps of observations, events, activities, and choices that occur during their shift. We have invented normative calculations that enable users to discover when their assessments and choices are particularly sensitive to the choices of others, thereby providing a principle to guide what is recorded and shared during shifts and at handover. We will develop a map of the practices of Tactical Action Officers, conduct user-acceptance studies, and map the information sources used by TAOs. We will develop requirements for our handover technology so that it automatically accepts information feeds, is easily used within the real-time constraints of the TAO's tasks, and creates a qualitative improvement in handover effectiveness (as measured by reduction in organizational risk). We will prototype selected updates to illustrate the performance and potential of the eventual, enterprise-wide capability. We will also design a formal validation program, using organizational (inter-cognitive) risk as its measure of effectiveness.