Quantum ergonomics: shifting the paradigm of the systems agenda

Abstract

A paradigm is an accepted world view. If we do not continually question our paradigm then wider trends and movements will overtake the discipline leaving it ill adapted to future challenges. This Special Issue is an opportunity to keep systems thinking at the forefront of ergonomics theory and practice. Systems thinking prompts us to ask whether ergonomics, as a discipline, has been too timid? Too preoccupied with the resolution of immediate problems with industrial-age methods when, approaching fast, are developments which could render these operating assumptions an irrelevance? Practical case studies are presented to show how abstract systems problems can be tackled head-on to deliver highly innovative and cost-effective insights. The strategic direction of the discipline foregrounds highquality systems problems. These are something the discipline is well able to respond to provided that the appropriate operating paradigms are selected. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 Keywords: paradigms, systems thinking, big data, internet of things Practitioner SummaryHigh quality systems problems are the future of the discipline. How do we convert obtuse sounding systems concepts into practical interventions? In this paper the essence of systems thinking is distilled and practical case studies used to demonstrate the benefits of this new paradigm.

Ergonomics issues in sport and outdoor recreation

“…Carden et al, forthcoming; Hulme et al, forthcoming). This reflects a wider trend across the ergonomics discipline whereby systems ergonomics is increasingly being used as a lens for system evaluation and design (Salmon et al 2017c;Walker et al 2017;Waterson, Le Coze, and Andersen 2017). Further systems ergonomics applications in sport and outdoor recreation are encouraged.…”

Human factors and ergonomics systems-based tools for understanding and addressing global problems of the twenty-first century

“…Gunderson and Holling (2002) contend that all natural systems are really complex adaptive systems. While the concept of complex adaptive systems has already been introduced into the HFE literature (Carayon et al, 2015;Guastello, 2017;Karwowski, 2012;Walker et al, 2017) it has only been used to describe one of the properties of a complex system and not to explain the dynamics of adaptation. Beyond a certain level of complexity, natural systems exhibit self-organising adaptive properties.…”

Editorial: Ergonomics and Human Factors in Aviation

“…The systems paradigm is gaining ground in Human Factors and Ergonomics (Salmon et al 2017;Stanton and Harvey 2017;Stanton, Salmon, and Walker 2017;Walker et al 2017) as represented in this special issue. Indeed, the importance of the systems approach has been recognised in aviation (Harris and Stanton 2010;Schmid and Stanton 2018).…”