BEMOSA's workshop suggests adding simulation scenarios to training programs

Did you know that there are three typical employee profiles that determine how and airport workers make key security decisions?

Well, according to information collected by the BEMOSA (Behavioral Modeling of Security in Airports) Project, most airport security personnel fall into one of three categories and responses to security threats are determined by these traits.

The project, which is now looking at how to turn its extensive research of airport security personnel into a comprehensive training program to enhance airport security, notes that the first profile is the "adaptive" employee, who tends to bend and break the rules. The second is the "social based decision maker," who nearly always consults with someone before making a decision, and the third, the "compliant bureaucratic decision maker," strictly follows and complies with the rules and regulations.

Using these guidelines, as well as additional research into the critical components in the decision-making process, the BEMOSA team recently held a one-day workshop to lay down the basic guidelines for a training program.

At the workshop, the team highlighted that the overall goals are to “close the gap between knowledge and actual performance, preserve new and tacit experienced based knowledge, as well as support the airports organizational objectives.”

Together they examined how key findings, such as the tendency for group-based security decisions, could and should be introduced into any new training program. They also looked at the role of technology and trust of security machines plays a critical part in making decisions. It was pointed out that because airport security relies so heavily on technology, any sort of training program must address the issue of trust in technology.

Those at the workshop also suggested that sophisticated simulation scenarios, with group based training formats, should also have a place in any sort of training program. In that way, employees could be presented with a number of scenarios based on their profiles and have their responses assessed accordingly. This will enhance their security decision-making abilities.