After reviewing the relationship between operators' competence and work process knowledge (Rogalski, 2003), incidents are presented as occurrences of types of professional situation. These are problem-solving situations for the actors involved, and potential resources for developing their knowledge (Vergnaud, 1991). Memorised episodes constitute a specific resource for competence development under the condition of specific reflective activity.

Single incidents can also mediate between actors, and may be used for developing shared knowledge (Baerentsen, 1996) based on contextualised action and not only on procedures. Van der Schaaf introduced the use of critical incidents for improving safety in risky environments. Recent developments in this field (Barriquault, 1999; Barriquault & Rogalski, 2001) indicate how an envelope of potential scenarios elaborated from a specific incident may enhance experiential feedback, for individuals through social mediation, and for the organization through experience-sharing. Such a consideration of single, contextualised situations within the scope of an organization-wide analysis of work process knowledge, and individual and collective competence centred on operational knowledge, might be an answer in the debate about situated cognition. Empirical data from studies of work in various dynamic environment domains will be presented to support these claims. (190 words)