1. The national holiday
2. An individual observing a given location
3. The latest controversial statement by a President
You cannot see what these 3 pieces of information have in common? Yet each of them can be considered a weak signal.
Definition
The weak signal was defined in the 70s by Professor Igor Ansoff as “early warning information of low intensity, which may herald a trend or an important event”. In short, a weak signal is a piece of information that may seem innocuous and non-dangerous in itself, but which, when combined and linked with other weak signals, can provide us with a trend, supposed to trigger a change in behavior or an adaptive reflex.
Examples
Categories of weak signals include :
1. The calendar - anniversaries or symbolic dates likely to inspire certain perpetrators of malicious acts (September 11 or July 14, for example)
2. The environment - individuals waiting, observing, stressed or agitated
3. Public statements - of a nature to trigger possible crowd movements or demonstrations (comments by Presidents on certain ongoing conflicts, for example)
4. Official network warnings on the state of the threat (e.g., Vigipirate's move from heightened security to emergency attack level)
Weak signals as a tool for spreading a safety culture
The concept can be applied to a wide range of subjects, but in the field of safety, the weak signal can become a tool for vigilance, shared responsibility and the dissemination of a safety culture, both within the company and in society at large. Halfway between generalized indifference (where everyone lives in parallel with everyone else) and paranoia (where watchfulness becomes surveillance), our simple ability to observe our environment with serenity can sometimes enable us to avoid catastrophe.
In a society where rationality takes precedence over instinct, sometimes you need to listen to your instincts, and when in doubt, share your feelings with your colleagues or superiors.
