Case
Psychological Safety at Tunnel Creek
- Course
- ORGB3201
- Institution
- Northeastern University
Analyzes the Tragedy at Tunnel Creek to assess the importance and implications of Psychological Safety
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To: All EmployeesFrom: Mia Huebscher
Date: January 21, 2024
Subject: Upcoming Ski Trip
Hello everyone,
By now, I am sure you have heard about the tragic incident that occurred yesterday at Tunnel Creek (if
not, or if you would like to know more, here is a link to a news report, CBS News.)
I am writing this memo to assure you that this misfortune did not occur due to the presence of bad luck
or chance but rather transpired out of the absence of psychological safety. My research into the events at
Tunnel Creek combined with the knowledge I have obtained from my MBA course in Organizational
Behavior has led me to this conclusion, and it is my sincerest hope that by providing you with my
analysis, any concerns you may have regarding our upcoming ski trip will be appeased.
What is Psychological Safety?
Psychological safety is the shared belief that negative repercussions will not result from communicating
one’s concerns, disagreements, mistakes, questions, or personal opinions. When an environment is
psychologically safe, all individuals, regardless of their aptitude, share their diverse perspectives to
increase the group’s chance of reaching a comprehensive decision that is less susceptible to pitfalls.
The Consequences of a Lack of Psychological Safety
The catastrophe at Tunnel Creek was a direct result of a lack of psychological safety. On numerous
occasions, individuals of the Tunnel Creek group felt skeptical about the upcoming expedition.
However, none of them voiced their concerns because the lack of psychological safety in the group
made them fearful to do so. Here are some examples I have gathered from news articles:
The morning of the tragedy, John Stifter worried about the expedition after reading that the
avalanche danger for the day was “considerable to high.” Rather than trusting his intuition, he
blindly ignored it after consulting Jim Jack – a skier he believed had more expertise than him.
Just before descending the mountain, Megan Michelson worried about the size of the group
(larger groups put more weight on the slope, thereby increasing the risk of avalanches). Rather
than communicating this concern, Michelson kept quiet because she felt her social status among
the group and her position as one of the few girls did not grant her the safety to speak up.
Erin Dessert assumed the group was heading down the front side of the mountain. When she
realized they were doing Tunnel Creek, she backed out. She knew the conditions made the
expedition highly dangerous but did not warn the group because she was deceived and
intimidated by the group’s expertise.
If just one of these individuals’ concerns had been thoughtfully addressed, the tragedy at Tunnel Creek
may have been avoided, highlighting the significance of fostering a psychologically safe environment in
which conversation is embraced. So, why did this group fail to promote psychological safety?
Group Dynamics and a Lack of Communication
Two main reasons for this group’s absence of psychological safety were the specific composition of the
group and the members’ collective failure to address it. As previously mentioned, the group was
predominantly made up of men, meaning that the few women felt they had less authority to express their
concerns. Moreover, the variety of expertise levels in the group made those with less experience also
less inclined to voice their opinions. These hierarchies based on gender and knowledge level produced
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