Designing sociotechnical systems with cognitive work analysis: putting theory back into practice
Designing sociotechnical systems with cognitive work analysis: putting theory back into practice
Cognitive work analysis (CWA) is a framework of methods for analysing complex sociotechnical systems. However, the translation from the outputs of CWA to design is not straightforward. Sociotechnical systems theory provides values and principles for the design of sociotechnical systems which may offer a theoretically consistent basis for a design approach for use with CWA. This article explores the extent to which CWA and sociotechnical systems theory offer complementary perspectives and presents an abstraction hierarchy (AH), based on a review of literature, that describes an 'optimal' CWA and sociotechnical systems theory design system. The optimal AH is used to assess the extent to which current CWA-based design practices, uncovered through a survey of CWA practitioners, aligns with sociotechnical systems theory. Recommendations for a design approach that would support the integration of CWA and sociotechnical systems theory design values and principles are also derived.
cognitive work analysis, complex systems, sociotechnical systems theory, system design
822-851
Read, G. L. M.
99ffd688-4e0f-4afe-921f-5ad0bd3415fa
Salmon, P. M.
5a536e91-25eb-41e4-80cb-7386c6d912bd
Lenne, M. G.
dcabb838-2f52-447b-b023-591898bbd14e
Stanton, N. A.
351a44ab-09a0-422a-a738-01df1fe0fadd
2015
Read, G. L. M.
99ffd688-4e0f-4afe-921f-5ad0bd3415fa
Salmon, P. M.
5a536e91-25eb-41e4-80cb-7386c6d912bd
Lenne, M. G.
dcabb838-2f52-447b-b023-591898bbd14e
Stanton, N. A.
351a44ab-09a0-422a-a738-01df1fe0fadd
Read, G. L. M., Salmon, P. M., Lenne, M. G. and Stanton, N. A.
(2015)
Designing sociotechnical systems with cognitive work analysis: putting theory back into practice.
Ergonomics, 58 (5), .
(doi:10.1080/00140139.2014.980335).
Abstract
Cognitive work analysis (CWA) is a framework of methods for analysing complex sociotechnical systems. However, the translation from the outputs of CWA to design is not straightforward. Sociotechnical systems theory provides values and principles for the design of sociotechnical systems which may offer a theoretically consistent basis for a design approach for use with CWA. This article explores the extent to which CWA and sociotechnical systems theory offer complementary perspectives and presents an abstraction hierarchy (AH), based on a review of literature, that describes an 'optimal' CWA and sociotechnical systems theory design system. The optimal AH is used to assess the extent to which current CWA-based design practices, uncovered through a survey of CWA practitioners, aligns with sociotechnical systems theory. Recommendations for a design approach that would support the integration of CWA and sociotechnical systems theory design values and principles are also derived.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 19 October 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 14 November 2014
Published date: 2015
Keywords:
cognitive work analysis, complex systems, sociotechnical systems theory, system design
Organisations:
Transportation Group
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 382344
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/382344
ISSN: 1366-5847
PURE UUID: 756f3739-32e5-45b4-98f6-e2ef596fe2d3
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 28 Oct 2015 17:40
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:33
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
G. L. M. Read
Author:
P. M. Salmon
Author:
M. G. Lenne
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
