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Tripod Beta - a practical example
Tripod Beta provides a structured way to analyse incidents by breaking them down into a sequence of events and examining the factors that influenced each step.
Sequence of events (Tripod trios)
An incident is described as a sequence of events that develops over time. Each event is defined as an Agent acting on an Object, resulting in an Event. These elements together form what is known as a Tripod trio.
By identifying and connecting these trios, the analysis reconstructs how the situation evolved step by step, from the initial conditions to the final outcome. This provides a clear and structured view of what actually happened.
Add Barriers to each Tripod trio
For each Tripod trio, the barriers in place to prevent the agent from acting on the object or to protect the object from the agent are examined. Barriers are measures or conditions that control the interaction between the agent and the object. The analysis focuses on whether these barriers were present and effective when needed.
Add a causation path for each Barrier
When a barrier is missing or fails, the next step is to understand why. Each barrier is therefore connected to a causation path, which explains the conditions that made the barrier ineffective in that situation. The focus is not on the failure itself, but on understanding the conditions that made that failure possible. These conditions lead to the identification of underlying causes within the organisation. By linking barriers to their causation paths, the analysis moves beyond the visible events and reveals how organisational conditions influenced the outcome.
