Macro Ergonomics Research Articles

It's a small world after all: contrasting hierarchical and edge networks in a simulated intelligence analysis task

This article presents the rationale behind an important enhancement to a socio-technical model of organisations and teams derived from military research. It combines this with empirical results which take advantage of these enhancements. In Part 1, a new theoretical legacy for the model is developed based on Ergonomics theories and insights. This allows team communications data to be plotted into the model and for it to demonstrate discriminate validity between alternative team structures. Part 2 presents multinational data from the Experimental Laboratory for Investigating Collaboration, Information-sharing, and Trust (ELICIT) community. It was surprising to see that teams in both traditional hierarchical command and control and networked ‘peer-to-peer’ organisations operate in broadly the same area of the model, a region occupied by networks of communication exhibiting ‘small world’ properties. Small world networks may be of considerable importance for the Ergonomics analysis of team organisation and performance. Practitioner Summary: This article is themed around macro and systems Ergonomics, and examines the effects of command and control structures. Despite some differences in behaviour and measures of agility, when given the freedom to do so, participants organised themselves into a small world network. This network type has important and interesting implications for the Ergonomics design of teams and organisations.

Macroergonomics in Education: On Your Mark, Set, GO!

Macroergonomics (ME) theory and methods have not been systematically applied to the field of education despite the fact that as a complex work system, education would almost assuredly benefit from ME applications. This discussion panel proposal briefly describes the complexity of the US education system and some of the areas where resources are currently being directed by federal and state funding agencies. In addition, a brief overview of technical subsystems is provided to demonstrate where mismatches between work and technology might be found. The panel members' expertise and current work will focus an discussion on three questions: 1) what are the expected benefits of applying ME theory to educational settings, 2) where and how should ME practitioners target efforts to do more work in education, and 3) what strategies should one consider to ensure successful application and outcomes.

Macroergonomics in Education: On Your Mark, Set, GO!

Macroergonomics (ME) theory and methods have not been systematically applied to the field of education despite the fact that as a complex work system, education would almost assuredly benefit from ME applications. This discussion panel proposal briefly describes the complexity of the US education system and some of the areas where resources are currently being directed by federal and state funding agencies. In addition, a brief overview of technical subsystems is provided to demonstrate where mismatches between work and technology might be found. The panel members' expertise and current work will focus an discussion on three questions: 1) what are the expected benefits of applying ME theory to educational settings, 2) where and how should ME practitioners target efforts to do more work in education, and 3) what strategies should one consider to ensure successful application and outcomes.

21st Century Ergonomics: A Lean Approach to Ergonomics Process Design and Management

Ergonomics strategies are becoming more common in the workplace for a variety of different reasons. These include productivity and efficiency gains, reducing the risk of work injuries, improving workstation design and layout, enhancing tool design or all of the above. One such strategy that generates significant results by addressing multiple reasons is the development and integration of an Ergonomics Process (EP) into the organization. The EP is a lean, pro-active and participative approach that is designed to prevent and manage work injuries quickly and effectively. The EP is based on the theory of Macro ergonomics, continuous improvement, participatory ergonomics and modern day lean system thinking. The EP described in this paper demonstrates a practical and efficient approach to the design of work systems that engages employees, management and administrators to impact the organization at the macro and micro ergonomics level, resulting in a powerful return on investment through increased productivity, employee work health satisfaction, and significant cost savings.

Pendekatan Ergonomi Makro Sebagai Solusi Perencanaan Sistem Kerja Bergilir untuk Meningkatkan Produktivitas, Kualitas dan Keselamatan Kerja Industri

According to IEA 9International Ergonomics Association), ergonomics or human factors is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding or interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. To achieve effectiveness and productivity, work system designer have to consider not only the technological aspects, but also the relationship between user and system. User satisfaction, comfortabillity, adjustablillity and worker safety, for example, are the most important parameters to be considered in the design processea. There are two ergonomics approach in the job design, i.e., micro ergonomics and macro ergonomics. Micro ergonomics analyzes task-sub task, optimize worker, focused on detail design, and generally physical measure such as length, force, lumens, decibels, time, etc. Macro ergonomics analyzezz group of worker, focused on broad overview and generally organizational and/or subjective measures such as number of people, span of controls, attiudes, morals, shift schedules and sosio-technical design. Shift work is well recognized risk factors for occuptional safety and health. Evaluation and design of working time arrangements gain importance due to economical changes and overall reduction of safety and health problems. The aim of this paper is to review the main factors of ergonomics approach applied on shift work design to improve systems productivity and occupation safety and health. Keyword: macro ergonomics, shift work design, productivity, occupation safety and health

データマイニング手法によるＳＥ管理に関するマクロエルゴノミクス

データマイニング手法によるＳＥ管理に関するマクロエルゴノミクス

The Macro Ergonomics on Management of SEs by a Data-mining Method

The Macro Ergonomics on Management of SEs by a Data-mining Method