Which is a component of crew resource management?

• A. Safety culture
• B. Primary cause
• C. Accountability
• D. Teamwork

Answer: (D)

Crew Resource Management centers on using all available resources, especially people, to operate safely and effectively through clear communication, shared situational awareness, and coordinated action. Teamwork is the heart of this because it directly enables the crew to work together smoothly: communicating needs and observations, coordinating tasks, and supporting one another under pressure. When teamwork is strong, the group can brief clearly, cross-check assumptions, and adjust plans as a unit, which helps prevent miscommunications and errors that can arise in stressful situations.

Safety culture matters and supports how people behave, but CRM focuses on how the team functions in the moment as they handle operations. The primary cause is a root-cause determination used after an incident, not a day-to-day team process. Accountability is important, but CRM emphasizes collaborative responsibility and communication within the team rather than a standalone attribute. So teamwork best captures the element CRM is designed to improve.