Reducing Cognitive Bias and Organizational Silence in UAE Oilfield Maintenance: The Role of Microlearning Interventions

Abstract

Oilfield maintenance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is marked by high-stakes, time-sensitive decisions where human judgment plays a critical role. This study investigates how cognitive biases and organizational silence—two behavioral vulnerabilities—affect decision-making and safety communication among frontline oilfield personnel. Using qualitative data from interviews, field observations, and document analysis, the research identifies patterns of overconfidence, familiarity bias, and defensive silence that compromise procedural accuracy. The study further explores the role of microlearning interventions—short, contextualized training modules—in mitigating these issues. Findings suggest that microlearning enhances decision reflection, supports procedural recall, and fosters psychological safety, thereby enabling more accurate judgments and greater willingness to speak up. The research contributes to behavioral safety scholarship by proposing a conceptual framework that links microlearning to both cognitive recalibration and voice behavior in high-risk industrial settings. Implications for training design and organizational safety strategies are discussed.

Introduction

The study examines decision-making challenges in UAE oilfield maintenance operations, where safety-critical decisions are made under high pressure and uncertainty. Despite advanced technologies such as predictive maintenance and digital dashboards, human judgment remains central, making operations vulnerable to cognitive biases (e.g., overconfidence, confirmation bias) and organizational silence. In hierarchical, multicultural, and high-stress environments, workers—especially junior and expatriate staff—often withhold safety concerns due to fear, cultural norms, disengagement, or perceived futility, which further degrades decision quality and risk awareness.

The literature review highlights that cognitive bias and organizational silence are well-documented separately but rarely studied together in oilfield maintenance contexts, particularly in the UAE. It also identifies microlearning—short, targeted, digital training—as a promising yet underexplored intervention. Prior research suggests microlearning can enhance attention, procedural recall, and engagement, and may act as a behavioral tool to interrupt heuristic-driven decisions and encourage employee voice.

Using a qualitative methodology (interviews, field observations, and document analysis), the study finds three core themes: (1) routine reliance on intuition under operational pressure leading to biased decisions, (2) institutionalized silence driven by hierarchy, cultural deference, and weak psychological safety, and (3) positive behavioral effects of microlearning, including improved procedural accuracy, reflective decision-making, and increased confidence to speak up.

Overall, the research argues that microlearning can function not only as a training method but also as a behavioral safety intervention that reduces cognitive bias and organizational silence. The study contributes by integrating behavioral decision theory and psychological safety theory, and by offering practical recommendations for improving safety, reliability, and communication in high-risk, multicultural oilfield environments in the UAE.

Conclusion

This study examined how microlearning interventions may reduce cognitive bias and organizational silence in the context of UAE oilfield maintenance operations. Drawing on qualitative data from frontline workers, supervisors, and safety advisors, the research found that two behavioral vulnerabilities—intuitive, heuristic-driven decision-making and institutionalized silence—undermine safety reliability and procedural accuracy. These vulnerabilities are often reinforced by time pressure, cultural hierarchy, and operational norms that discourage upward voice. The findings suggest that microlearning, when implemented as part of daily workflows and designed with behavioral intent, can play a significant role in enhancing both decision quality and safety communication. Specifically, task-specific digital modules were associated with reduced reliance on overconfident judgments and increased willingness among workers to raise safety concerns. These improvements align with cognitive load theory, psychological safety principles, and prior research emphasizing the need for adaptive, modular training in dynamic environments.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Bader Saif Salem Al Badi, Syeda Shagufta Shah Roze. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.