This qualitative study investigates attitudes toward elderly workers and their work situation in different sectors, and explores perceptions and organizational measures that can enable an extended working life. Previous age management studies indicate that there are several interconnected measures and key areas of importance, and that there is a general need for strategies to strengthen sustainable age management at the organizational level. A structured content analysis was used to analyze data from focus group interviews with informants from a variety of organizations. The study identified three themes that highlight attitudes and perceptions of integrated age management practices: (a) contemporary policies and practices in the work environment; (b) social participation and attitudes; (c) experience and mentorship. These themes can form the basis of a good approach to an integrated age management strategy. Such a strategy can be achieved through intervention studies where research on sustainable working life meets the real problems faced by employees and managers.

No abstract

Guidelines are used in information and quality management systems to ensure high quality by supporting design, production and communication processes. These guidelines can be presented as a conventional system on an intranet suitable for printouts, visualized as a traditional text-based report with a list of headings accompanied by tables and pictures or presented as paper documents in manuals or binders. Such approaches do not always correspond to some companys' requirements for usability. However, multimedia techniques can be used to visualize and let users interact with the information through hyperlinked text, pictures, and animations. The aim of this study was to design a computer aided system of ergonomic guidelines visualized by means of interactive multimedia technology based on cognitive theories and practical examples. Furthermore, the efficiency in and attitudes towards using the interactive multimedia system were evaluated and compared with a conventional system which visualized ergonomic guidelines in the form of a traditional report on scrollable web pages. The interactive multimedia system was the result of a participatory design process with experts and potential users in collaboration with Saab Automobile. The system was, in general, faster to use with lower dispersion in performance speed and number of incorrect answers compared to the conventional system. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females or between the five groups of potential users. In addition, the interactive multimedia system was experienced as more enjoyable to use, which is likely to promote interest and learning about ergonomic issues. Relevance to industryThe results from this study can be used to design and improve visualization of ergonomic guidelines on an intranet, increase efficiency, and engender a positive attitude towards using ergonomic information. r

No abstract

No abstract