Exploring work environment management boundaries using work domain analysis

Abstract

BackgroundWork environment regulations identify specific objectives that employers must fulfil. Work environment is a multidimensional concept encompassing nature of tasks, physical and social conditions, workplace characteristics and organisation, work schedule, prospects to the workers, and the intrinsic rewards associated with the work. Through work domain analysis, the first of the five dimensions of cognitive work analysis, the study explored the boundaries of work environment management. MethodsMixed method including looking at regulatory requirements, a limited literature review and comprehensive discourse with occupational safety and health enforcement officials as subject matter experts provided the information to populate the abstraction decomposition space in the analysis. Affordances of the regulation purposes formed the functional purposes of the work environment management. Work environment indicators identified formed the value and priorities measures. Purpose-related functions were constructed from a work environment model, with subject matter experts providing the relevant physical resources and the functions the resources afford. ResultsAbstraction decomposition space for work environment management was designed showing means-ends links from resources to the purposes they fulfil in the system.From the abstraction decomposition space, it was possible to design results-chain models supporting decision-making. The analysis showed that the functional purposes can be fulfilled with different means-ends pathways. In addition, the purpose-related functions constructions allowed for superimposing of enforcement orders from earlier inspections reports, supporting the validity of the constructs. ConclusionThe study provided structure and content of work environment management, and decision-making models supporting the management practices and strengthening attainment of justifiable work environment.