Abstract
This paper deals with internal challenges that the human
factors/ergonomics (HFE) research faces when wishing to
strengthen its contribution to development of work
systems. Three established characteristics of
high-quality HFE, i.e., HFE takes a systems approach, HFE
is design-driven, and HFE focuses on two closely related
outcomes, performance and well-being, are taken as a
starting point of a methodological discussion, in which
conceptual innovations, e.g. adopting the
technology-in-use perspective, are proposed to support
development of HFE towards the high-quality aims. The
feasibility of the proposed conceptual choices is
demonstrated by introducing a naturalistic HFE analysis
approach including four HFE functions. The gained
experience of the use of this approach in a number of
complex work domains allows the conclusion that becoming
design-driven appears as that most difficult quality
target for HFE to reach. Creating an own design
discipline identity in a multi-voiced collaboration is
the key internal challenge for human factors/ergonomics.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 61-71 |
Journal | Applied Ergonomics |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- core-task modelling
- design thinking
- naturalistic approach
- technology-in-use