What the Death Star can tell us about ergonomics methods

Walker, Guy H.; Salmon, Paul M.; Bedinger, Melissa; Stanton, Neville A.

doi:10.1080/1463922x.2015.1130879

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…As has been argued previously in Walker, Stanton, Salmon et al (2010) , Walker, Salmon, Bedinger et al (2016) , and Walker (2016) , complexity is a powerful contingency factor when selecting appropriate HF methods to apply in practice. In other words, HF methods need to be matched to the levels of complexity inherent in the problem space in order to ensure high levels of predictive efficiency (PE; Crutchfield, 1994 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…These strategic problems are characterized as "systems problems" (Dul et al, 2021, Vol. 63(8) 1408 -1436 2012; Wilson, 2014) and a growing body of recent research highlights the weakness of reductionist methods for tackling them Walker, Salmon, Bedinger et al, 2016Woods & Dekker, 2000). This presents the discipline with an uncomfortable and disconcerting truth.…”

Section: Introduction An Inconvenient Truthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reductionist methods, which currently dominate the HF field (e.g., Walker, Stanton, Salmon et al, 2010 ), focus on reducing systems down to their component parts. They operate under an assumption that if the individual components can be understood, then so can the overall system which they comprise ( Walker et al, 2016 ). This is a rather simplistic characterization and, to the extent it holds, an entirely appropriate one for many classes of HF problem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While appropriate for some classes of HF problem it is not suited to others (e.g., Lee, 2001 ; Sharma, 2006 ), particularly the “high-quality” strategic problems the discipline needs to tackle in order to remain relevant ( Dul et al, 2012 ): problems such as profound changes in global work systems, new developments in information and communications technology, the fourth industrial revolution, sustainability, and many more. These strategic problems are characterized as “systems problems” ( Dul et al, 2012 ; Salmon, Walker et al, 2017 ; Wilson, 2014 ) and a growing body of recent research highlights the weakness of reductionist methods for tackling them ( Salmon, Walker et al, 2017 ; Walker, Salmon, Bedinger et al, 2016 , Walker, Stanton, Salmon et al, 2010 ; Woods & Dekker, 2000 ). This presents the discipline with an uncomfortable and disconcerting truth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…High PE is a case of the most parsimonious and efficient method being selected on the basis it provides the maximum of insight. Precisely this issue was explored in Walker, Salmon, Bedinger et al (2016) . In this study two teams were challenged to find weaknesses in a fictional complex sociotechnical system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Binary-Based Model (BBM) for Improved Human Factors Method Selection

Holman¹,

Walker²,

Lansdown

et al. 2020

Hum Factors

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Objective This paper presents the Binary-Based Model (BBM), a new approach to Human Factors (HF) method selection. The BBM helps practitioners select the most appropriate HF methodology in relation to the complexity within the target system. Background There are over 200 HF methods available to the practitioner and little guidance to help choose between them. Method The BBM defines a HF “problem space” comprising three complexity attributes. HF problems can be rated against these attributes and located in the “problem space.” In addition, a similar HF “approach space” in which 66 predictive methods are rated according to their ability to confront those attributes is defined. These spaces are combined into a “utility space” in which problems and methods coexist. In the utility space, the match between HF problems and methods can be formally assessed. Results The method space is split into octants to establish broad groupings of methods distributed throughout the space. About 77% of the methods reside in Octant 1 which corresponds to problems with low levels of complexity. This demonstrates that most HF methods are suited to problems in low-complexity systems. Conclusion The location of 77% of the rated methods in Octant 1 indicates that HF practitioners are underserved with methods for analysis of HF problems exhibiting high complexity. Application The BBM can be used by multidisciplinary teams to select the most appropriate HF methodology for the problem under analysis. All the materials and analysis are placed in the public domain for modification and consensus building by the wider HF community.

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