Complex sociotechnical systems: The Human Factor

1
Complex socio-technical systems The Human Factor

• Dr Mark S Young
• School of Engineering and Design

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Human Factors focuses on systems of people and
equipment which combine to achieve a task or
function.
Socio-technical Systems
Performance
Human Factors
Environment

• Knowledge, Tools Techniques
• Ergonomics
• Environment analysis
• Evaluation
• Task analysis
• User Trials
• Emergency Analysis Prediction
• Training needs analysis
• Psycho-metrics

• Brain e.g.
• Perception
• Cognition
• Attention
• Decision making

• Safety
• Quality
• Comfort
• Efficiency
• Desired
• Required
• Unacceptable
• Accident
• Injury
• Lost Time
• Discomfort
• Poor quality
• Inefficiencies

System Displays Controls
Workspace
Interface Hardware
Software Functionality
Task
DESIGN
Task

• Body e.g.
• Motor Control
• Muscular strength
• Terminal limits
• Special requirements

Equipment
Training/ selection
Its objective is integrate human performance into
systems design and operation , which achieve a
desired level of performance
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Human Factors is best applied at the design stage
(A), however is most often applied after the
systems performance is found to be unacceptable
(B)
Continuous improvement
Systems
Performance
A
Human Factors
Environment

• Knowledge, Tools Techniques
• Ergonomics
• Environment analysis
• Predictive data Task analysis
• User Trails
• Emergency Analysis Prediction
• Training needs analysis
• Psycho-metrics

• Brain ego
• Perception
• Cognition
• Attention
• Design making

• Safety
• Quality
• Comfort
• Efficiency
• Desired
• Required
• Unacceptable
• Accident
• Injury
• Lost Time
• Discomfort
• Poor quality
• Inefficiencies

System Displays Controls
Workspace
Interface Hardware
Software Functionality
Task
DESIGN
Task

• Body e.g.
• Motor Control
• Muscular strength
• Terminal limits
• Special requirements

Equipment
Training/ selection
Identification of Problems
B
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Social network
5
Comms network
6
Knowledge network