Cognitive work analysis of new collaborative work
10 Oct 2004-Vol. 1, pp 904-910
TL;DR: The paper shows how cognitive work analysis together with several different empirical techniques can help in the analysis of a new collaborative work task.
Abstract: It is a complicated problem when the purpose of cognitive work analysis is to develop design of a new collaborative work task that does not yet exist, and which can only be established through the use of a collaboratory. The challenge for the analyst is to determine the constraints and possibilities for collaboration among actors in different organisations. Field studies have been undertaken using cognitive work analysis together with several different empirical techniques. The paper shows how this approach can help in the analysis of a new collaborative work task
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TL;DR: It is suggested that the interplay of information use and information infrastructures may be conceptualized as a systemic interaction, which is driven by the simultaneous influence of human activity related warrants and infrastructureural affordances and constraints.
Abstract: There has been notably little convergence between information organization and information use studies. A framework for explicating the contextual interplay of information interactions and infrastructures of information, and more specifically the interface of information work and knowledge organization systems, is proposed. The theoretical foundations of the framework are based on systems theory and ecological approach. It is suggested that the interplay of information use and information infrastructures may be conceptualized as a systemic interaction, which is driven by the simultaneous influence of human activity related warrants and infrastructural affordances and constraints. The model provides an instrument that explicates the interplay of human information use and information infrastructures.
42 citations
TL;DR: The paper suggests that the explication of work and work roles might serve in providing additional understanding on the formation of the purposes, meanings and values, which guide the shaping of the activities conceptualised as tasks.
Abstract: – Both task‐based and work‐oriented research approaches have proved their value in information science research. A task is a workable analytical unit of human activity, which brings the level of explication close enough to cater for individual actions and their consequences. Similarly, work and work roles have been effective concepts at explicating the broad patterns of professional information activity. Major issues of the existing approaches are the difficulty of conceptualising the contexts of tasks and the relatively high level of abstraction of a work level scrutiny. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the concepts of “work”, “work role” and “task” might be integrated into a common research agenda. It is suggested that the explication of work and work roles might serve in providing additional understanding on the formation of the purposes, meanings and values, which guide the shaping of the activities conceptualised as tasks., – The issue is discussed in general with a reference to an empirical study of information work of archaeology professionals informed by the notion of work role., – It is suggested that the broader notions of work and work roles are useful concepts for explicating the context of more specific tasks., – The suggested approach brings together task and work–work role‐based research and provides a basis for exploring human information activity from a broader perspective than before and thus improving the general understanding of why and how information is used as it is used., – The study provides an approach to conceptualise the ways how people work with information and lays the ground for improving information management and organisation practices., – There has been little prior discussion about integrating the task and work‐based approaches. The paper suggests that the explication of work and work roles might serve in providing additional understanding on the formation of the purposes, meanings and values, which guide the shaping of the activities conceptualised as tasks.
32 citations
Cites background from "Cognitive work analysis of new coll..."
...In the cognitive work analysis based investigations of information interactions and information behaviour, the notion of work has been contextualised and structured even further (Pejtersen, 1989; Fidel and Pejtersen, 2004; Pejtersen and Rasmussen, 2004; Fidel and Pejtersen, 2005)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate a modelling methodology for complex sociotechnical systems, in order to support the systems engineering process, which captures the dynamic interaction and the effect of humans in a complex environment.
Abstract: In complex sociotechnical systems, cognitive and social humans use technology to make sense of situations when making decisions. These elements make sociotechnical systems difficult to develop. A modelling and assessment methodology for systems engineering is required to understand the sociotechnical system’s behaviour and underlying structure. Modelling captures the dynamic interaction, as well as the effect of humans in a complex environment. Cognitive Work Analysis and System Dynamics are two complementary approaches applied in mutual support within this context. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a modelling methodology for complex sociotechnical systems, in order to support the systems engineering process.
28 citations
07 Jun 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight the need for at least a relative consensus on the extents of archaeological practices in order to be able to understand and develop archaeological practices and knowledge work in the contemporary digital context.
Abstract: Defining what constitute archaeological practices is a prerequisite for understanding where and how archaeological and archaeologically relevant information and knowledge are made, what counts as archaeological information, and where the limits are situated. The aim of this position paper, developed as a part of the COST action Archaeological practices and knowledge work in the digital environment (www.arkwork.eu), is to highlight the need for at least a relative consensus on the extents of archaeological practices in order to be able to understand and develop archaeological practices and knowledge work in the contemporary digital context. The text discusses approaches to study archaeological practices and knowledge work including Nicolini’s notions of zooming in and zooming out, and proposes that a distinction between archaeological and archaeology-related practices could provide a way to negotiate the ‘archaeologicality’ of diverse practices.
28 citations
Additional excerpts
...…starting point for mapping and modelling sociotechnical activity systems ranging from activity theory (Sannino et al. 2009) to cognitive work analysis (Pejtersen & Rasmussen 2004), soft systems methodology (Checkland 2000) and situational method engineering (Henderson-Sellers et al. 2014)....
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TL;DR: This research-through-design study presents conceptual designing as a bootstrapping approach to CWA in the design of a first-of-a-kind UTM system.
Abstract: Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) is an appropriate approach in design for high-stakes domains, such as air traffic management (ATM) since it focuses on human expert performance in regular and continge...
26 citations
Cites background from "Cognitive work analysis of new coll..."
...Some previous work on CWA has addressed novel systems (Naikar et al. 2003; Pejtersen and Rasmussen 2004)....
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References
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Book•
01 Apr 1999TL;DR: In this article, an approach to computer-based work in complex sociotechnical systems developed over the last 30 years by Jens Rasmussen and his colleagues at Riso National Laboratory in Roskilde, Denmark is described.
Abstract: This book describes, for the first time in pedagogical form, an approach to computer-based work in complex sociotechnical systems developed over the last 30 years by Jens Rasmussen and his colleagues at Riso National Laboratory in Roskilde, Denmark. This approach is represented by a framework called cognitive work analysis. Its goal is to help designers of complex sociotechnical systems create computer-based information support that helps workers adapt to the unexpected and changing demands of their jobs. In short, cognitive work analysis is about designing for adaptation. The book is divided into four parts. Part I provides a motivation by introducing three themes that tie the book together--safety, productivity, and worker health. The ecological approach that serves as the conceptual basis behind the book is also described. In addition, a glossary of terms is provided. Part II situates the ideas in the book in a broader intellectual context by reviewing alternative approaches to work analysis. The limitations of normative and descriptive approaches are outlined, and the rationale behind the formative approach advocated in this book is explored. Part III describes the concepts that comprise the cognitive work analysis framework in detail. Each concept is illustrated by a case study, and the implications of the framework for design and research are illustrated by example. Part IV unifies the themes of safety, productivity, and health, and shows why the need for the concepts in this book will only increase in the future. In addition, a historical addendum briefly describes the origins of the ideas described in the book.
2,140 citations
Book•
28 Sep 1994
TL;DR: This work presents a meta-analysis of the design process and its Guidance of BookHouse, a Library System, and its users, that aims at determining the principles of effective Coupling and its application in that system.
Abstract: Work Domain Analysis Activity Analysis Analysis of Work Organization and System Users User-Work Coupling At the Periphery of Effective Coupling: Human Error The Design Process and Its Guidance Evaluation of Design Concepts and Products Design of a Library System BookHouse Design: Data Base and User Dialogue BookHouse Design: Interface Displays BookHouse Evaluation Catalog of Annotated Displays References Index
1,542 citations
TL;DR: A technique for team design based on cognitive work analysis (CWA) is presented and a case study is provided of how this technique was used to design a team for a first-of-a-kind, complex military system during the early stages of its development.
Abstract: We present a technique for team design based on cognitive work analysis (CWA). We first develop a rationale for this technique by discussing the limitations of conventional approaches for team design in light of the special characteristics of first-of-a-kind, complex systems. We then introduce the CWA-based technique for team design and provide a case study of how we used this technique to design a team for a first-of-a-kind, complex military system during the early stages of its development. In addition to illustrating the CWA-based technique by example, the case study allows us to evaluate the technique. This case study demonstrates that the CWA-based technique for team design is both feasible and useful, although empirical validation of the technique is still necessary. Applications of this work include the design of teams for first-of-a-kind, complex systems in military, medical, and industrial domains.
122 citations
01 May 1989
TL;DR: Earlier efforts originating within the fields of “ergonomics” and “human factors” are undergoing a radical development in the direction of a serious concern with understanding and dealing with the basic interactions between people and their actual work situation.
Abstract: The advent of modem information technology is significantly affecting many aspects of the system design process as well as the resulting user products. One tendency seems to be in the direction of integrated work stations which aim at supporting the broad diversification of tasks which professional users have to cope with. Therefore earlier efforts originating within the fields of “ergonomics” and “human factors” are undergoing a radical development in the direction of a serious concern with understanding and dealing with the basic interactions between people and their actual work situation. Major areas include user modelling, task performance, decision making and user-system communications. This concern has spawned an activity called cognitive engineering having the overall goal of providing good human-work interfaces and incorporating as a principle ingredient a cognitive task analysis (Pejtersen and Rasmussen 1986).
62 citations
01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: Three European film archives are analyzed to assess the potential of designing a collaboratory that supports, enables, and enhances the work in the archives and shows that collaboration – the focal point of collaboratories – is an intrinsic element of this work.
Abstract: Collaboratories are based on communication technologies such as the Internet and intended to foster increased collaboration and sharing of resources within and among organisations. This study analyses three European film archives to assess the potential of designing a collaboratory that supports, enables, and enhances the work in the archives. The analysis shows that collaboration – the focal point of collaboratories – is an intrinsic element of this work. Though all three archives have preservation, analysis, indexing, and retrieval of films as core activities there are important differences in how these activities are perceived and performed. A work analysis such as the one in this study may facilitate the archives in identifying a common ground on which to base a collaboratory, and in acknowledging the distinctiveness of each archive. The development of a firmer common ground seems a prerequisite for exploiting a collaboratory that goes beyond sharing of data. Coupling of work, readiness for collaboration, and readiness for collaboration technologies are also discussed as conditions for effective use of collaboratories.
19 citations