Group responsibility has its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
Each group member should feel responsible for the output of that group, not just their own output as an individual, and ought to work towards ensuring that the whole ‘product’ is safe
This may involve cross-checking others’ work (even when not strictly required), politely challenging others if you think that something is not quite right, etc.
Disadvantages:
It can potentially act against safety, with responsibility being devolved to such an extent that no-one feels personally responsible for safety (referred to as diffusion of responsibility)
Here, an individual, on his own, may take action but, once placed within a group situation, he may not act if none of the other group members do so, each member of the group or team assuming that ‘someone else will do it’.
Group responsibility has its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
Each group member should feel responsible for the output of that group, not just their own output as an individual, and ought to work towards ensuring that the whole ‘product’ is safe
This may involve cross-checking others’ work (even when not strictly required), politely challenging others if you think that something is not quite right, etc.
Disadvantages:
It can potentially act against safety, with responsibility being devolved to such an extent that no-one feels personally responsible for safety (referred to as diffusion of responsibility)
Here, an individual, on his own, may take action but, once placed within a group situation, he may not act if none of the other group members do so, each member of the group or team assuming that ‘someone else will do it’.
