Problem detection

Abstract

Problem detection is the process by which people first become concerned that events may be taking an unexpected and undesirable direction that potentially requires action. Previous accounts [e.g., Cowan (Acad Manage Rev 11(4):763–776, 1986)] described problem detection as the accumulation of discrepancies until a threshold was reached. In reviewing incidents taken from a variety of natural settings, we found that discrepancy accumulation did not apply to the incidents we reviewed, because (a) cues to problems may be subtle and context-dependent, and (b) what counts as a discrepancy depends on the problem-solver’s experience and the stance taken in interpreting the situation. In many cases, detecting a problem is equivalent to reconceptualizing the situation.