Information systems and management of the performance / safety combination: comparative trajectories of three extreme situations

Abstract

This article raises the following question: to what extent has the evolution of technologi-cal artifacts over time shaped the performance/security context in extreme situations? Toaddress this problem, the authors use a historical approach, combined with a comparativeanalysis of three extreme situations: the trader who executes orders in a trading room, thetechnician who makes supervision decisions in aeronautics and the high-mountaineerwho makes choices in his progression to the summit. The contribution of this work can beevaluated at two levels. First, this article provides the reader with a unique historical anal-ysis from an IS view in three different extreme situations. On the other hand, this reflectionsheds light on the relationship between the management of the unexpected and the use ofnew technologies in the context of extreme situations. In particular, the vital and / or directnature of risk largely determines the use of IS and its impact on the performance / securitycouple.