Implementing Cognitive Work Analysis to Support Early Phases of Sociotechnical System Development

Abstract

Systems engineering (SE) is applied to bring about complex systems, such as sociotechnical systems (STS), based on stakeholder requirements. Introducing new technology into an existing STS may result in unexpected emergent behaviour when prevailing processes, procedures and information flows are challenged. Due to the complexity associated with emergence, the resultant system may fail to achieve the desired utility fully, or the work system produced may not be desirable. Cognitive work analysis (CWA) provides a framework for analyzing, modelling, and designing STS. This study proposes applying CWA modelling to requirement analysis for new technology introduction as part of a validation workflow in aid of SE. Work domain analysis (WDA), the first step in the CWA framework, is applied to a test case, and the resultant abstraction hierarchy (AH) models are analyzed to evaluate the perceived utility. This article shows how analysts were able to apply the method and uncover possible design emergence. We hope that the methods presented herein will aid more designers in applying CWA as part of the SE life-cycle toward successfully implementing complex STS.