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Just Culture, a misunderstood ”success”?

Bjørn, Kim LU and Grønlykke, Anders LU (2025) FLYL01 20251
School of Aviation
Abstract
Abstract:
This bachelor thesis explores the concept of just culture within aviation, with a specific
focus on European airline captains’ knowledge, understanding, and perception of their
reporting obligations. Grounded in the theoretical just culture framework of safety culture,
developed by James Reason (1997), the study examines whether the principles of just culture - now nearly 30 years old, and legally implemented through Regulation 376/2014 - function as
originally intended, or whether the concept remains a work in progress.
To investigate this, a qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured
interviews with 13 captains from European commercial airlines. The interviews aimed to assess
the pilots’... (More)
Abstract:
This bachelor thesis explores the concept of just culture within aviation, with a specific
focus on European airline captains’ knowledge, understanding, and perception of their
reporting obligations. Grounded in the theoretical just culture framework of safety culture,
developed by James Reason (1997), the study examines whether the principles of just culture - now nearly 30 years old, and legally implemented through Regulation 376/2014 - function as
originally intended, or whether the concept remains a work in progress.
To investigate this, a qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured
interviews with 13 captains from European commercial airlines. The interviews aimed to assess
the pilots’ familiarity with both mandatory and voluntary occurrence reporting, and how these
practices relate to the broader goals of just culture in organizational safety management.
The study finds that while pilots generally express a positive attitude toward just culture,
its full potential - particularly in relation to reporting - has yet to be realized. The authors
conclude that aviation organizations should actively enhance pilots’ conceptual understanding
of just culture in order to strengthen its practical application and improve the frequency of
occurrence reports. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bjørn, Kim LU and Grønlykke, Anders LU
supervisor
organization
course
FLYL01 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Just culture, Regulation 376/2014, reporting obligations, FLYL01
language
English
id
9201816
date added to LUP
2025-06-18 13:08:35
date last changed
2025-06-18 13:08:35
@misc{9201816,
  abstract     = {{Abstract: 
This bachelor thesis explores the concept of just culture within aviation, with a specific 
focus on European airline captains’ knowledge, understanding, and perception of their 
reporting obligations. Grounded in the theoretical just culture framework of safety culture, 
developed by James Reason (1997), the study examines whether the principles of just culture - now nearly 30 years old, and legally implemented through Regulation 376/2014 - function as 
originally intended, or whether the concept remains a work in progress. 
To investigate this, a qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured 
interviews with 13 captains from European commercial airlines. The interviews aimed to assess 
the pilots’ familiarity with both mandatory and voluntary occurrence reporting, and how these 
practices relate to the broader goals of just culture in organizational safety management. 
The study finds that while pilots generally express a positive attitude toward just culture, 
its full potential - particularly in relation to reporting - has yet to be realized. The authors 
conclude that aviation organizations should actively enhance pilots’ conceptual understanding 
of just culture in order to strengthen its practical application and improve the frequency of 
occurrence reports.}},
  author       = {{Bjørn, Kim and Grønlykke, Anders}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Just Culture, a misunderstood ”success”?}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}