Exploring the Social Construction of Emergent Change in a Complex Adaptive System: A Study of Complex Change in the Nuclear Power Industry

本研究旨在探讨语言和话语模式如何塑造复杂适应人类系统的创新和变化，重点关注核管理委员会（NRC）和核工业利益相关者代表之间的沟通互动变化。变革的背景是一个行业范围的变革倡议，其中NRC与行业利益相关者进行对话，以制定和实施经修订的反应堆监督程序（RROP）。RROP倡议被业界专家认为是NRC与其监管客户互动方式的重大创新，本研究将采用扎根理论方法，比较和对比两种沟通互动模式，一种是在RROP变革倡议发展过程中发生的，另一种是反映NRC和核工业代表之间传统形式的沟通互动。作为行业中的顾问，研究人员是一个参与者观察者，并在研究中获得项目数据和参与者的高度。这项研究得到了NRC、核能研究所（NEI）、忧思科学家联盟（UCS）和核电站管理层的支持。

This study proposes to explore the ways in which language and patterns of discourse shape innovation and change in complex adaptive human systems, here focused on changes in communication interaction among representatives of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear industry stakeholders. The context for change is an industry-wide change initiative in which the NRC engaged industry stakeholders in a dialogue to develop and implement a revised reactor oversight process (RROP). The RROP initiative is considered by industry experts to be a significant innovation in the way that NRC interacts with its regulated clients.Using a grounded theory methodology, the study will compare and contrast two patterns of communication interaction, one that occurred during the development of the RROP change initiative, and the other reflecting the traditional form of communication interaction among representatives of the NRC and the nuclear industry. As a consultant in the industry the researcher is a participant observer and has an unusually high degree of access to project data and participants in the study. The study has the support of the NRC, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and nuclear power plant management.