Designing sociotechnical systems with cognitive work analysis: putting theory back into practice

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.

A sociotechnical systems approach to understand complex urban systems: A global transdisciplinary perspective

“…Further, Patorniti et al. () maintain that the planning and design of cities is compatible with the sociotechnical systems theory content principles contained in Read, Salmon, Lenné, and Stanton (). For instance, urban planning and design also seeks to have appropriate boundary locations (e.g., landscaping to create a barrier to road pavement); control problems at their source (e.g., landmark to assist with wayfinding); system components that are congruent (e.g., residential apartments next to parkland); design that is appropriate to the particular context (e.g., building awnings to protect people from rain or sun); and intimate units and environment that are designed (e.g., laneway dining or park seating).…”

Formation Mechanism and Coping Strategy of Public Emergency for Urban Sustainability: A Perspective of Risk Propagation in the Sociotechnical System

“…Tropos is a novel agent-oriented software engineering methodology [39], and has been extended to the Urban Public Emergency  Problems: How it is formed (formation mechanism) and How to cope it (coping strategy) Risk Propagation Chain  Theory: Risk management theory In order to better research urban public emergency, on the basis of sociotechnical system theory, we move up one level to urban sociotechnical system level, and regard city as urban sociotechnical system, which is composed of various types of sociotechnical systems, including the urban production system, the urban traffic system, and the urban lifeline system, and in which urban public emergency generates and evolves. "Sociotechnical", a term originally proposed by Tavistock in the UK [35], is used to refer to an organic whole consisting of people, technologies, facilities, and organizations linked together to achieve certain functions [36][37][38].…”

Extending helicopter operations to meet future integrated transportation needs

“…For a detailed description of each phase and the associated tools the reader is directed to additional texts including Vicente (1999), Jenkins et al (2009) and Read et al (2015). Whilst each phase of the analysis process builds upon the last, McIlroy and Stanton (2011) argued that not all phases are required to be used equally and it is down to the analyst to decide which phases are necessary to answer the research question under investigation.…”

“…The method has demonstrated previously utility in system design (e.g. Jansson et al, 2006;McIlroy and Stanton, 2011;Cornelissen et al, 2013;Read et al, 2015).…”