Contextual assessment of working practices in changing work

Abstract

This article presents a method developed to support working at technologically oriented work settings. This method is known as Contextual Assessment of Working Practices (CAWP). It aims to identify work demands, strengths and weaknesses of the current practices, to explain them and to formulate development objectives. In addition, this paper presents three studies, and described how the method was used in them. Each of the studies challenged the method by a different practical problem and nature of the work thus promoting its development. The studied works were: operation of a conventional power plant, remote expert service for pulp mill and vessel traffic service (VTS). The studies also illustrate the challenges faced in the industry and the expectations placed by current work environments on the work analysis and development methods. The claims on the work analysis methods are concluded on the basis of each study. Also the strengths and weakness of the CAWP method are discussed. This article claims that the management of the change at work is one of the most important ways to support human performance in the socio-technical system and thus to promote system efficiency. Consequently, recognition of the change, understanding it and increasing the preparedness for the future are challenges placed on the work analysis and intervention methods. Relevance to industry This article presents both empirical and methodical findings with a relevance to industry: a method for developing industrial work and three studies illustrating the current challenges faced by industry. The importance of the interrelated and continuous development of technology and practices based on the contextual analysis of the real content of the work, operators’ competences, and current practices and sources of professional identities in order to maintain productivity and wellbeing at work is emphasised.