Strategy Selection and Compliance: A Case-Study Using a Thermal-Hydraulic Process Microworld

Abstract

This paper focuses on the third phase of the Cognitive Work Analysis framework: strategies analysis. While CWA outlines the basic characteristics of strategies, little attention has been paid to the issues of strategy selection and compliance. This paper presents experimental data looking at these issues. Forty engineering university students performed a start-up task on a representative thermal-hydraulic process microworld. Participants were divided into two groups, each performing the task with a different graphical user interface. Three different strategies were available to control the simulation: Single, Decoupled, and Full. The only constraints imposed on strategy selection were the physical characteristics of the process simulation. A frequency count for each of the different strategies used by participants was cumulated. Results show a strong preference towards the Decoupled strategy. Results also show significant differences between the two interface groups. These results provided helpful insights on strategy selection and compliance and interface design.