Sensemaking on the Bridge: A Theoretical Approach to Maritime Information Design

Abstract

In the maritime sector 75–96% of accidents have been attributed to “human error”. Behind the label “human error” there are humans struggling to make sense of their environment, which is often a complex system comprising people, organizations and technology. Sensemaking is a concept that can help us understand human behavior in organizations. Knowledge about humans’ capabilities and limitations are crucial for designing resilient systems. The majority of sensemaking research has focused on the cognitive and linguistic sphere. However, an emerging topic in the sensemaking literature is embodied sensemaking, which looks into how also intuitive and bodily sensations and emotions are influencing how we interpret and act in the world. Embodied sensemaking may be especially relevant in the maritime sector where the environment is highly dynamic. This article forms a foundation for further research on sensemaking and maritime information design.