Requirements for and Preparation of Human Factors Professionals: Three Perspectives

Abstract

Representatives from government, industry, and academia present a wide range of viewpoints regarding the needs, training, and development of Human Factors Professionals in a session which combines formal presentations with spontaneous interaction. Perspectives from within the government relative to Human Factors personnel are presented both in terms of the special needs for managing Human Factors programs and in terms of skills and capabilities which facilitate the implementation of development and research activities. Insights regarding the philosophy underlying career tracks in Human Factors can be readily extracted from the presentations. Viewpoints from industry reveal substantial overlap in required skills despite dramatically diverse end products. Insights regarding the structure of corporate Human Factors activities are provided along with insights about expectations for new employees and on the job training as an augmentation of academic training. Also included are discussions of areas of divergence between the industrial practitioners’ needs and the data/research base from which they must draw. Academic viewpoints from both Psychology and Industrial Engineering are presented. An emphasis on the development of problem solving skills and knowledge of how to apply Human Factors tools is a recurring theme. Viewpoints on the Human Factors specialist performing both in a scientist and practitioner role are discussed, and strengths and weaknesses of existing programs are reviewed. The diversity of viewpoints represented in the session allows frank recognition of problems being faced by the profession as well as providing a vehicle for discussing solutions.