Sensemaking in action: A multi-case study on the formation mechanism of high reliability teams in Chinese organizational contexts

With the leapfrog development of China in high-risk industries such as aerospace and high-speed railway, the research conclusions on high reliability teams (HRTs) in the Western context have become difficult to fully explain the situation where Chinese HRTs have consistently maintained a "low failure rate" in complex systems. From the perspective of local management practices in China, "collectivist culture" and "hierarchical authority" are innovatively incorporated into the analysis scenarios of this study to systematically deconstruct the unique evolutionary path of why HRTs in China can successfully achieve rapid response decisions when facing risk events. This study aims to explore the formation mechanism of HRTs under the unique cultural traditions and institutional environment of China. Through multi-case analysis, reveal how the advantages of Chinese characteristics shape the operation mode of HRTs. These findings have vital strategic guiding value for enhancing the core competitiveness in pivotal industries in China.