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Human Fallibility and Learning from Errors at Work

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Human Fallibility

Part of the book series: Professional and Practice-based Learning ((PPBL,volume 6))

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of, and integrates findings from, several studies that have been conducted since 2002 at the University of Regensburg (Germany), which focused on human fallibility and learning from errors in work contexts. Together, these studies provide evidence on four key questions about errors at work and the possibility of learning from them. Specifically, the studies investigated (1) the role of errors as starting points for learning, (2) employees’ engagement in learning activities after errors, (3) potential outcomes of learning from errors in terms of refined knowledge, and (4) supportive conditions for learning from errors at work. The chapter summarizes the main findings on these issues and draws conclusions for the enhancement of organizational strategies to foster learning from errors and for future research.

Notes

This chapter is an extended version of the article: Bauer, J., Gartmeier, M., & Harteis, C. (2010). Lernen aus Fehlern im Arbeitskontext: Lernprozesse, Lernergebnisse und förderliche Rahmenbedingungen. Wirtschaftspsychologie, 12, 7–16.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The present studies were part of a series of research projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and lead by Prof. Dr. Helmut Heid and Prof. Dr. Hans Gruber (He 1158/4-2; Gr 1384/11-1; Gr 1384/11-2) as well as of the Ph.D. projects of Martin Gartmeier and Johannes Bauer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. TUM School of Education, Technische Universität München, Schellingstr. 33, D-80799, Munich, Germany

    Johannes Bauer Ph.D. & Martin Gartmeier Ph.D.

  2. Institute of Educational Science, University of Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany

    Christian Harteis Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Johannes Bauer Ph.D.
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  2. Martin Gartmeier Ph.D.
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  3. Christian Harteis Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johannes Bauer Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. TUM School of Education, Technische Universität München, Schellingstraße 33, Munich, 80799, Germany

    Johannes Bauer

  2. Fakultät für Kulturwissenschaften, Universität Paderborn, Warburger Straße 100, Paderborn, 33098, Germany

    Christian Harteis

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Bauer, J., Gartmeier, M., Harteis, C. (2012). Human Fallibility and Learning from Errors at Work. In: Bauer, J., Harteis, C. (eds) Human Fallibility. Professional and Practice-based Learning, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3941-5_10

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