Development of Risk-Oriented Thinking for Sustainable Functioning of the Technosphere

Abstract

The increasing dependence of the mankind on technical systems makes us a “risk society.” Therefore, in order to minimize consequences of anthropogenic activity those specialists who have access to complex technical systems need to develop advanced risk-oriented thinking. The purpose of this study is to formulate and clarify the concept of “risk-oriented thinking” and substantiate integration of the systemic and the competency-based approaches. According to the authors hereof, the use of the Perrow model is the most effective educational condition of development of risk-oriented thinking in future engineers. Study results include both a definition of the “risk-oriented thinking” and criteria of the advanced risk-oriented thinking.