1st Edition

Work Domain Analysis Concepts, Guidelines, and Cases

By Neelam Naikar Copyright 2013
    338 Pages 115 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    In complex sociotechnical systems such as military, health care, and nuclear power systems, poor performance or errors resulting from inadequate designs can have catastrophic consequences. Although considered challenging to learn and execute well, work domain analysis can be used as a framework to assist in the design of these systems. Work Domain Analysis: Concepts, Guidelines, and Cases helps you develop a deep understanding of this framework—not by oversimplifying the principles but by explaining its concepts and methodology in considerable depth.

    Building on the foundational concepts of cognitive work analysis by providing the first comprehensive treatment of work domain analysis, the book begins with fundamental topics such as abstraction, decomposition, and structural means-ends and part-whole relations, clearly outlining the basic characteristics of a work domain model. It then explores more advanced topics such as the development of multiple models of a system and the distinction between causal and intentional systems and illustrates them with numerous examples across a range of systems including warships, libraries, and petrochemical plants. It also provides comprehensive guidelines for performing work domain analysis.

    The author provides three detailed case studies that examine the impact, unique contribution, and feasibility of applying work domain analysis in industrial settings. These case studies demonstrate that work domain analysis can be used to address a range of problems beyond interface design, such as team design, training, and the evaluation of system design concepts. They also provide concrete illustrations of the guidelines for work domain analysis.

    Without an appreciation of the variety of applications of work domain analysis, and its suitability for implementation in industrial settings, the benefits of this approach may not be fully realized. This book supplies the deep knowledge of this tool that will lead both to more powerful and innovative applications of the approach and to designs that support flexibility or adaptation in the workplace, making systems safer, healthier, and more productive for workers.

    Section I Introduction

    Cognitive Work Analysis
    Work Analysis
    What Is Cognitive Work Analysis?
    Order of the Five Dimensions
    What Is Unique about Cognitive Work Analysis?
    Designing for Adaptation
    Summary

    Work Domain Analysis
    What Is Work Domain Analysis?
    Why Are Models of the Work Domain Useful?
    The Abstraction–Decomposition Space
    Causal versus Intentional Systems
    Formats for Work Domain Models
    Summary

    Section II Concepts

    Abstraction
    Number, Types, and Labels of Levels of Abstraction
    Descriptions of Levels of Abstraction
    Summary

    Decomposition
    Number, Types, and Labels of Levels of Decomposition
    What to Decompose?
    Why Decompose?
    Summary

    Structural Means–Ends, Part–Whole, and Topological Relations
    Types of Relations
    Structural Means–Ends Relations
    Part–Whole Relations
    Topological Relations
    Summary

    Multiple Models
    Introduction
    Multiple Stakeholders’ Perspectives
    Multiple Problem Facets
    Multiple Models and Decomposition
    Summary

    Activity: Whether or Not to Model?
    Can Activity Be Included in a Work Domain Model?
    Should Nouns or Verbs Be Used in a Work Domain Model?
    Can Control Systems Be Included in a Work Domain Model?
    Is There an Overlap between Work Domain Analysis and Control
    Task Analysis?
    Summary

    Section III Guidelines

    Analytic Themes for Work Domain Analysis
    Introduction
    Theme 1: What Is the Purpose of the Analysis?
    Theme 2: What Are the Project Restrictions?
    Theme 3: What Are the Boundaries of the Analysis?
    Theme 4: Is It Useful to Develop Multiple Models?
    Theme 5: Where on the Causal–Intentional Continuum Does the Focus
    System Fall?
    Theme 6: What Are the Sources of Information for the Analysis?
    Theme 7: What Is the Content of the Abstraction–Decomposition Space?
    Theme 8: Is the Abstraction–Decomposition Space a Valid Model of the
    Focus System?
    Summary

    Section IV Cases

    Evaluation of Design Concepts
    Context
    Rationale
    Case Study
    Summary

    Team Design
    Context
    Rationale
    Case Study
    Summary

    Training
    Context
    Rationale
    Case Study
    Summary

    Conclusion

    Section V Appendix
    The Remaining Dimensions of Cognitive Work Analysis

    References
    Index

    Biography

    Neelam Naikar

    "... this eagerly awaited book from Neelam Naikar does not disappoint. It continues with the theme of her previous published material in adding valuable explanation of the works of Rasmussen and Vicente, along with insightful expansions. ... should be considered essential reading for anyone serious about applying cognitive work analysis for the first time, as well as an excellent resource for those more familiar with the technique to verify and validate their interpretations of cognitive work analysis."
    --Daniel P. Jenkins, Research Lead, DCA Design International, Warwick, UK