Hierarchical task analysis

Introduction 1 Organisation of the book 3 Chapter 1 Task analysis, concepts and terminology 6 Introduction 6 Systems thinking 6 Systems thinking in describing human skill 10 Human performance in systems 12 Justification of HTA in systems terms 15 Some terminology so far 20 Concluding comments 23 Chapter 2 HTAذa task analysis framework 24 Introduction 24 The main strategies of HTA 24 HTA—a Framework for Analysing Tasks 31 Using the framework 39 Concluding comments 39 Chapter 3 Plans and complexity 41 Introduction 41 Different sorts of plan 42 Composite plans 56 Unravelling complex plans 56 Concluding comment 64 Chapter 4 Flexibility, constraint, cognition and context 66 Introduction 66 Inferring cognitive operations 69 Focus and Bias 70 Modelling and evaluating strategies 70 Situating cognition 70 Identifying strategies off line 70 Concluding remarks 84 Chapter 5 Representing and recording HTA 86 Introduction 86 Reasons for representing and recording 87 Hierarchical diagrams 88 Numbering the analysis 90 Tabular Formats 91 Representation of plans in diagrams and tables 95 Computer aids in recording task analysis 97 Concluding remarks 100 Chapter 6 Analysis of tasksذsome illustrations 101 Introduction 101 Changing a cartridge 104 Process control 104 Task analysis of a batch operation 106 Task analysis of a continuous process control task 109 Air-traffic control 112 Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) 113 A customer service task 115 v Using a wordprocessor 117 Mechanical maintenance 120 Nursing 123 Management 125 Staff supervision—nurse in charge of a ward 131 Concluding remarks 133 Chapter 7 Making human factors design decisions within HTA 135 Introduction 135 Considering the design options 137 Making design choices 143 Context and constraint and design decisions 147 Collating and resolving design decisions 150 Developing detailed design within the system life-cycle 153 Concluding remarks 156 Chapter 8 Teams and jobs 158 Introduction 158 Collaborating on a common goal 159 Assessing workload 165 The tasks of within a working team 168 Concluding remarks 174 Chapter 9 Information and skill 176 Introduction 176 The reliance on information in tasks—some examples 178 Characteristic problems with information and control 180 Identifying information requirements in operations 187 Types of operation 188 Identifying information requirements in plans 195 Representing and situating information and control 195 Concluding remarks 197 vi Chapter 10 HTA and training 199 Introduction 199 Learning practical skills 200 An informal training intervention 202 Elements of a formal training programme 207 Part-task training 212 Simulation for training 216 Concluding comment 218 Chapter 11 Designing support documentation 220 Introduction 220 Common types of support documentation 221 Determining where job-aids should be employed 227 Relating job-aids to training 229 Representation of job-aids and the link to HTA 230 Concluding remarks 233 Chapter 12 Human resource management issues 234 Introduction 234 Establishing a proper task description 235 Making human resource management decisions 236 Concluding comment 241 Chapter 13 Conclusions 243 The method 243 The application of HTA to different domains 245 The application of HTA to supporting different design solutions 246 Cognition and flexibility 247 Tasks and contexts 247 HTA and other task analysis methods 248 Chapter 14 Notes 250 Chapter 1: Task analysis, concepts and terminology 250 vii Chapter 2: HTA—a task analysis framework 252 Chapter 3: Plans and complexity 258 Chapter 4: Flexibility, constraint, cognition and context 258 Chapter 5: Representing and recording HTA 258 Chapter 6: Analysis of tasks—some illustrations 260 Chapter 7: Making human factors design decisions within HTA 260 Chapter 8: Teams and jobs 260 Chapter 9: Information and skill 261 Chapter 10: HTA and training 261 Chapter 11: Designing support documentation 262 Chapter 12: Some human resource management issues 262