Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers about Human and Organisational Performance

What is Human and Organisational Performance (HOP)?

Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) is a contemporary approach to improving safety, learning, and operational performance. It focuses on understanding the context and conditions of work, recognising the complex interactions between people and systems. HOP helps us to understand how humans perform and gives us a framework for building more resilient organisations.

What are the five principles of HOP?

The five principles of HOP are:

People make mistakes
Blame fixes nothing
Context drives behaviour
Learning is vital
Response matters

When implemented effectively, these principles help organisations focus on learning, engagement, and better system design. Read more in the article.

What is HOPLAB?

HOPLAB is a specialist division of Southpac International Group. It provides training, coaching, facilitation, and tools to help organisations apply Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) and Operational Learning in practice.

How is HOP different from traditional safety approaches?

HOP focuses on learning and system improvement rather than control and compliance. It views people as the solution and shifts the focus from individual error to understanding how work actually happens and how systems influence outcomes.

What courses does HOPLAB offer?

HOPLAB offers a suite of training programs including:

All our course programs are available to be delivered by our experienced facilitators in-person or virtually.

What is covered in HOP Fundamentals training?

HOP Fundamentals introduces the five HOP principles, explores how systems influence behaviour, and provides practical insights for applying HOP in your role. There are tailored versions for frontline leaders, supervisors, and senior executives.

What will I get out of HOP training?

You’ll gain a practical understanding of HOP principles, the mindset shift behind operational learning, and how to use tools like Learning Teams and Field Insights to improve your systems, relationships, and performance.

Who should attend HOP training?

HOP training is suitable for frontline workers, supervisors, safety professionals, operational leaders, and executives—anyone involved in decision-making, risk management, or system design.

Does HOPLAB offer online training?

Yes. HOPLAB’s HOP Fundamentals Online Course is a self-paced eLearning course which introduces participants to the HOP principles and the concepts of Human and Organisational Performance. The average completion time is under 8 hours. This online course provides a cost-effective option for training large teams or global organisations in the foundations of HOP.

Can HOPLAB deliver in-house training for our organisation?

Yes. HOPLAB regularly delivers customised training and workshops for entire teams, including leadership groups, project teams, and HSE professionals. In-house training can be delivered onsite at your workplace in-person, or virtually.

What is Operational Learning?

Operational Learning refers to the tools and practices that help organisations understand how work really happens. It includes Learning Teams, Event Learning Review, and Field Insights methods such as Walk-Through Talk-Through. These approaches support continuous improvement by engaging those closest to the work.

What are Learning Teams?

Learning Teams are structured conversations with frontline workers designed to explore everyday work. They help organisations learn from what goes well, understand how work is actually done, and develop practical, worker-driven improvements.

How do you run a Learning Team?

A Learning Team brings together people who do the work to explore a task or event. Through facilitated conversations, the frontline experts reflect on how the work unfolds in reality, what helps or hinders success, and what could be improved. You can learn more through HOPLAB’s HOP & Learning Teams course and free Learning Teams Guide.

What is Event Learning?

Event Learning is a way to move beyond traditional incident investigations. It focuses on understanding the broader context, learning from the event, and supporting better outcomes in the future. HOPLAB provides both courses and workshops on Event Learning Review.

What is HOP Integration?

HOP Integration is the process of aligning your systems, procedures, policies, and culture with HOP principles. It ensures that your management systems support learning, adaptability, and human-centred performance.

Is there a guide for implementing HOP over time?

Yes. HOPLAB provides a downloadable HOP Journey Map, which outlines the phases of HOP integration, from early learning to full system alignment.

How does HOP align with ISO management systems?

HOP can be integrated into systems aligned with ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 45001 (OHS), ISO 14001 (Environment), and ISO 27001 (Information Security). It supports these systems by improving engagement, learning, and resilience.

What industries benefit from HOP?

HOP has been adopted across high-risk and complex industries including mining, energy, aviation, manufacturing, construction, logistics, healthcare and government. However, HOP principles apply to any environment where people and systems interact.

Where is HOPLAB based?

HOPLAB is based in Australia and operates as part of Southpac International Group. The team works with organisations across Australia, New Zealand, the Asia Pacific and globally.

Does HOPLAB work internationally?

Yes. HOPLAB supports clients worldwide through online courses and virtual or in-person training, Learning Teams facilitation or co-facilitation, coaching programs, HOP integration projects, leadership workshops and more. All of our HOP and Learning Teams training and services are available globally.

Are there free resources available?

Yes. HOPLAB provides a range of free guides, videos, blogs, and tools. These include resources on Learning Teams, HOP Integration, Operational Learning and Field Insights.

How do I introduce Human and Organisational Performance to my team?

Start by building a shared understanding of the five HOP principles through introductory sessions or the HOP Fundamentals course. From there, engage your team in conversations about how work actually happens and use Learning Teams or other Operational Learning methods to explore work together. HOPLAB offers tailored support to guide this process.

What are the benefits of using Learning Teams in the workplace?

Learning Teams help organisations understand how work is really done, improve system design, and reduce repeat issues. They create space for honest conversations, build trust between teams and leaders, and result in practical, worker-led solutions that drive improvement and innovation.

Is HOP just for safety teams or can it be used across the business?

HOP is not just for safety teams. It can be applied across all areas of a business including operations, quality, HR, and leadership. Any function that influences how work is designed, supported, or reviewed can benefit from applying HOP principles and practices.

How does HOP support psychological safety in the workplace?

HOP encourages organisations to listen to workers, learn from failure without blame, and respond with curiosity rather than punishment. Cultivating an environment of psychological safety allows people to feel safe to speak up, share concerns, and contribute to improvement efforts.

Can Human and Organisational Performance be used during investigations?

Yes. HOP provides alternative approaches to traditional investigations. Tools like Event Learning Review focus on understanding the context of decisions and actions rather than finding fault. This leads to deeper learning and more meaningful improvements. HOPLAB offers training and resources to build this capability in your organisation.