A Methodology for Work Domain Analysis, the First Phase of Cognitive Work Analysis

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelam Naikar
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Domain Analysis ◽  
Sociotechnical Systems ◽  
Cognitive Work Analysis ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Work ◽  
Work Domain Analysis ◽  
Analysis Design ◽  
Work Domain

Cognitive work analysis (CWA) is gaining recognition as a promising approach for the analysis, design, and evaluation of complex, sociotechnical systems. The successful and widespread application of CWA, however, is limited by the lack of a well-defined methodology. This paper proposes a methodology for performing work domain analysis (WDA), the first phase of CWA, and it illustrates this methodology with a work domain of a home — a 'system' that will be highly familiar to everyone. This research will help to: make WDA more accessible to researchers and practitioners who were not involved in the development of WDA or who cannot be apprenticed to experts in WDA; reduce the amount of time and effort it takes to perform WDA even for experts in the area; and facilitate the application of WDA to large-scale, industry projects.

Theoretical Concepts for Work Domain Analysis, the First Phase of Cognitive Work Analysis

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelam Naikar
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Domain Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Work Analysis ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Work ◽  
Work Domain Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Issues ◽  
Work Domain

Cognitive work analysis (CWA) is gaining recognition as a promising approach for the analysis, design, and evaluation of complex, sociotechnical systems. However, the successful and widespread application of work domain analysis (WDA), the first phase of CWA, is limited by the lack of a coherent theoretical approach. This paper addresses a number of theoretical issues relating to WDA, including differences in the approaches of Rasmussen, Pejtersen & Goodstein (1994) and Vicente (1999), and it illustrates these theoretical issues with a work domain of a home — a 'system' that will be highly familiar to everyone. This research will help to: make WDA more accessible to researchers and practitioners who were not involved in the development of WDA or who cannot be apprenticed to experts in WDA; reduce the amount of time and effort it takes to perform WDA even for experts in the area; and facilitate the application of WDA to large-scale, industry projects.

scholarly journals Boundary Objects: CWA, an HR Firm, and Emergent Vocabulary

NASKO ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Christine Marchese ◽  
Richard P. Smiraglia
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Domain Analysis ◽  
Boundary Objects ◽  
Cognitive Work Analysis ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Work ◽  
Firm Boundary ◽  
Multiple Domains

Knowledge organization structures are dependent upon domain-analytical processes for determining ontological imperatives. Boundary objects—terms used in multiple domains but understood differently in each—are ontological clash points. Cognitive Work Analysis is an effective qualitative methodology for domain analysis of a group of people who work together. CWA was used recently to understand the ontology of a human resources firm. Boundary objects from the taxonomy that emerged from narrative analysis are presented here for individual analysis.

Designing New Intersections Using the Cognitive Work Analysis Design Toolkit

2018 ◽  
pp. 165-184
Author(s):  
Paul M. Salmon ◽  
Gemma J. M. Read ◽  
Guy H. Walker ◽  
Michael G. Lenné ◽  
Neville A. Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Work Analysis ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Work ◽  
Analysis Design

scholarly journals Designing for self-organisation in sociotechnical systems: resilience engineering, cognitive work analysis, and the diagram of work organisation possibilities

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelam Naikar ◽  
Ben Elix
Keyword(s):  
Task Demands ◽  
Sociotechnical Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Work Organisation ◽  
Resilience Engineering ◽  
Cognitive Work Analysis ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Cognitive Work ◽  
Self Organisation

Abstract In designing sociotechnical systems, accounting for the phenomenon of self-organisation is critical. Empirical studies show that workers in these systems adapt not just their individual behaviours, but also their collective structures to deal with complex work environments. The concept of self-organisation can explain how such adaptations can be achieved spontaneously, continuously, and relatively seamlessly, and why this phenomenon is important for dealing with instability, uncertainty, and unpredictability in the task demands. However, existing design approaches such as resilience engineering and cognitive work analysis are limited in their capacity to design for self-organisation. This paper demonstrates that the diagram of work organisation possibilities, a recent addition to cognitive work analysis, provides a sound theoretical basis for designing for self-organisation. That is, it shows how essential components of the diagram are aligned with the concept of self-organisation and are well-grounded in empirical observations of adaptation in a variety of sociotechnical systems, specifically emergency management, military, and healthcare systems. Consequently, designs based on this diagram should have the potential to facilitate the emergence of new spatial, temporal, and functional organisational structures from the flexible actions of individual, interacting actors, thereby enhancing a system’s capacity for dealing with a dynamic, ambiguous work environment. Future research should focus on validating these ideas and demonstrating their value in industrial settings.

scholarly journals Prototypical Work Situations: A Robust, Flexible Means for Representing Activity in a Work Domain

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 337-341
Author(s):  
Natalie C. Benda ◽  
Ann M. Bisantz
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Work Situation ◽  
Cognitive Work Analysis ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cognitive Work ◽  
Work Domain

Representing the results is a key component in the analysis of cognitive work. Many structures have been developed for representing the results of Cognitive Work Analysis, but the representation of activity through “prototypical work situations” is less commonly utilized. Prototypical work situations, initially described by Rasmussen, convey summaries of actual activities that represent the key properties of work in a domain. This study illustrates the utility of prototypical work situation representations through a demonstrative case example. Specifically, representations of prototypical work situations were utilized to summarize and compare communication with patients in the emergency department across multiple situations. Via the case example, we demonstrate how representations of prototypical work situations can be leveraged to summarize results, elicit feedback, and design and test new tools to support cognitive, collaborative work. We also provide a revised structure for creating prototypical representations of work that can be adapted and utilized in future studies.

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