E103: Does HOP Actually Work? Real Data From a 5-Year Study (Quickisode)

Does a Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) initiative improve learning and the quality of actions? And what happens when the initiative stops?This quickisode unpacks Christopher Mastrangelo’s 2026 Master’s thesis examining a multi-year HOP implementation at a large biopharmaceutical company. His project tracked operational data from 2020 through July 2025 across key metrics: a. deviation initiation ratesb. root cause classification practicesc. CAPA types, andd. cultural persistence after formal support was removed. The HOP initiative seemingly resulted in:a. A drop in quality deviationsb. A shift away from findings of 'human error' towards organisational improvementsc. Fixing systems rather than retraining peopleAnd what happens when the HOP initiative and key stakeholders are dissolved? After the dedicated HOP team was dissolved in mid-2024, formal training scores dropped, and 'human factors' classifications (e.g. focusing on people rather than the system) crept back in. But, frontline work execution and proactive learning mindsets persisted. Resources & Links:Website & Articles: https://safetyinsights.orgSupport the channel: https://buymeacoffee.com/benhutchinson