This exploratory research is based on an objectivist epistemology with a positivist theoretical perspective that deployed concurrent mixed methods (MMR) design through a quantitative administered survey alongside an in-depth qualitative analysis through interviews exploring the perspectives of leaders on EHS leadership and governance. The research literature review focused on EHS leadership, corporate governance and strongly related topics. This MMR research employed both an expert panel-validated survey and a semi-structured interview protocol which explored 9 themes which emerged from the literature review including EHS/Safety Leadership; Risk Management; Influence and Accountability. Due to pragmatics relating to the number of leaders accessed (N=30) the statistical analysis is limited to descriptive type statistics. Almost all respondents supported the monitoring role of the Board of Directors (BoD), but disagreed that the BoD should play an active role in risk management. Comparisons are drawn between the Oil and Gas and non-Oil and Gas organizations with interesting results especially in matters relating to risk management. Structured thematic content analysis yields that Safety Culture; Leadership; Influence and Accountability were the three leading themes accounting for just over 50% of the responses analysed. Many sub-themes have also emerged and are discussed. A Model of EHS Leadership and Governance was created and is presented which positions themes and factors that influence monitoring of EHS performance and ultimately risk management. The research can be considered as a unique contribution as a relatively small body of currently published work in this subject area, both globally and more so in the GCC.

La fiabilité organisationnelle concerne l’étude des conditions organisationnelles permettant à un système organisé complexe de maintenir des niveaux de fiabilité compatibles à la fois avec les exigences de sécurité et les exigences économiques. Les études effectuées sur le fonctionnement des organisations à haute fiabilité mettent en avant un ensemble de pratiques et de dispositifs mis en place au sein de ces organisations, tant au niveau de l’individu et du groupe qu’au niveau de l’organisation, qui permettent à celles-ci de gérer et d’exploiter efficacement des systèmes techniques complexes à risques. Dans la lignée des différents apports sur ce qui fait la fiabilité au sein de telles entreprises, ce travail vise à démontrer la prise en compte du désordre, comme une des logiques organisationnelles, participant à la fiabilité de l’entreprise. En ce sens, une conceptualisation du désordre en tant qu’organisateur (désordre organisationnel) est proposée. À la suite de cette conceptualisation, la thèse démontre dans quelle mesure le désordre, par le biais de lamise en place d’organisations informelles stratifiées sur l’organisation formelle existante, permet de résorber et de restreindre les effets des perturbations. Le désordre est analysé comme catalyseur intrinsèque de la création de sens, participant à la fiabilité. En discutant la considération du désordre comme étant essence même de l’organisation, ce travail analyse l’approche normative sous-jacente dans la conception même de l’organisation et la fiabilité de celle-ci. / The study of high organizational reliability refers to the examination of conditions that allow a complex organized system to maintain high levels of reliability consistent with both security and economic requirements. Studies on the functioning of High Reliability Organizations (HRO) feature a set of practices and mechanisms implemented within these organizations - at the individual, group and organizational levels - which enable them to manage and operate effectively complex technicalsystems at risk. In line with the contributions on what contribute to high reliability in such companies, this work aims to demonstrate the consideration of disorder, as one of the organizational logics, supporting reliability of the company. In this sense, a conceptualization of disorder as an organizing component (organizational disorder) is proposed. As a result of this conceptualization, the thesis demonstrates to what extent organizational disorder, through the establishment ofinformal organizations stratified on the existing formal ones, can reduce and limit the effects of disruptions. Disorder is analyzed as an intrinsic catalyst of sensemaking, partaking to high reliability. By discussing the consideration of disorder as the very essence of the organization, the thesis also debates upon the underlying normative approach in the very conception of the organization and its ensuant high reliability.

This exploratory research is based on an objectivist epistemology with a positivist theoretical perspective that deployed concurrent mixed methods (MMR) design through a quantitative administered survey alongside an in-depth qualitative analysis through interviews exploring the perspectives of leaders on EHS leadership and governance. The research literature review focused on EHS leadership, corporate governance and strongly related topics. This MMR research employed both an expert panel-validated survey and a semi-structured interview protocol which explored 9 themes which emerged from the literature review including EHS/Safety Leadership; Risk Management; Influence and Accountability. Due to pragmatics relating to the number of leaders accessed (N=30) the statistical analysis is limited to descriptive type statistics. Almost all respondents supported the monitoring role of the Board of Directors (BoD), but disagreed that the BoD should play an active role in risk management. Comparisons are drawn between the Oil and Gas and non-Oil and Gas organizations with interesting results especially in matters relating to risk management. Structured thematic content analysis yields that Safety Culture; Leadership; Influence and Accountability were the three leading themes accounting for just over 50% of the responses analysed. Many sub-themes have also emerged and are discussed. A Model of EHS Leadership and Governance was created and is presented which positions themes and factors that influence monitoring of EHS performance and ultimately risk management. The research can be considered as a unique contribution as a relatively small body of currently published work in this subject area, both globally and more so in the GCC.