Reflections on enacted sensemaking in the Bhopal disaster

TitleReflections on enacted sensemaking in the Bhopal disaster
Publication TypeJournal Article
Authors
JournalJournal of Management Studies
Volume47
Issue3
Pagination537-550
ISSN00222380, 14676486
Abstract

An updated analysis of the Bhopal disaster suggests that problems of abduction,
awareness, reliability, and certainty were more serious than was first thought. Expanded
analysis shows that the tight coupling between cognition and action, normally associated with
enacted sensemaking, broke down at Bhopal. The breakdowns included a low standard of
plausibility, minimal doubt, infrequent updating of both mental models and current hunches,
and mindless action. The modest enactment that did occur prolonged rather than shortened
the crisis.

URLhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00900.x
DOI10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00900.x