Definition
Situational Awareness is the ability to notice relevant information, understand its meaning and anticipate how the situation may develop in the near future.
Human Explanation
A person needs to know what is happening now, why it is happening and what may happen next in order to make an appropriate decision.
Why it Matters
Good Situational Awareness supports rapid response, reduces errors and improves safety in complex or dynamic work systems.
Conceptual Boundary
Situational Awareness does not mean having every possible piece of information. It requires access to relevant information presented at the right time and in a form that can be understood.
Practical Perspective
If important signals are hidden in excessive data, alarms or unclear reports, the problem may be the design of the information system rather than an employee's lack of attention.