Office Tasks Research Articles

Особенности адаптации молодых специалистов, выпускников образовательных учреждений МВД России к профессиональной деятельности

The article analyzes the problem adapt graduates of educational institutions MIA of Russia for all types of readiness for the special conditions of performance. The problems of adaptation of content, its subjective and objective factors, and the criteria for adaptation, on the basis of which it is possible to judge the speed and quality of performance of official duties, the orientation of the ease in dealing with office tasks and as comfort for official teams of young employees, members of the profession. The article analyzes the causes of the difficulties of adaptation, and provides recommendations on optimizing the process of entering the profession graduates departmental MIA universities.
 Particular attention is paid to professional self-determination as a factor of successful adaptation.

Absolute glare factor and relative glare factor based metric: Predicting and quantifying levels of daylight glare in office space

Extensive human subject research was performed to develop a daylight glare analysis methodology that correlates the Absolute Glare Factor (AGF) and the Relative Glare Factor (RGF). Literature reviews compared existing luminance thresholds developed by different research groups. More than 450 subjective data and visual scenes have been collected and analyzed to develop a new method. A HDR image analysis tool was developed in MATLAB to calculate luminance values and detect potential glare sources in digitally captured glare scenes. It was determined that using the human eye’s field of view (FOV) improves the discomfort glare evaluation performance. Luminance and glare ratio thresholds were defined in statistical analysis software. In addition to the newly defined luminance and contrast thresholds for different office task types, an AGF- and RGF-based glare equation was developed to evaluate and report perceived glare levels. AGF and RGF dominant zones were displayed on a scatter plot graph to visually explain which glare factor is more dominant to cause discomfort glare. This overall approach can help users to understand a cause of daylight glare and find solutions to avoid glare issues, which would ensure occupant’s visual comfort in buildings.

Lighting control systems in individual offices rooms at high latitude: Measurements of electricity savings and occupants’ satisfaction

An efficient lighting control systems (LCS) should take advantage of the natural light available, but this presents some technical challenges as well as user related issues. So far, the assessment of lighting energy consumption of LCS has been based on technical features rather than the occupants’ acceptance. This article presents the results of a monitoring study in a real life setting. It provides some recommendations based on the human and technical aspects of LCS in small scale applications. Four identical peripheral office rooms located in Lund, Sweden, were equipped with four different LCS: manual switch at the door, presence detector, daylight dimming with absence detector and LED task lamp. Each occupant performed ordinary office tasks for two weeks in each room in April–May 2013. A subjective evaluation concerning the general lighting experience and the appreciation of the LCS was carried out. The results indicate that the manual switch with absence detector was greatly appreciated and it accomplished good energy performances (75% savings compared to the presence detector). The daylight-linked LCS achieved only slightly higher savings (79%), due to relatively high standby losses. The desk lamp achieved 97% savings, but the lighting conditions were considered unacceptable by the office workers. In general, the participants in this study perceived all automatic controls as stressful.

Effect of Active Workstation Use on Workload, Task Performance, and Postural and Physiological Responses

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATION: We assessed workload and performance when using two active workstations. Our results, consistent with earlier evidence, indicates that active workstations do not increase physical activity at the expense of reduced performance and operator workload, if these workstations are used for simple tasks that do not require great attention or fine motor control. Active workstations also allowed for more variability in posture and reduced static posture. However, reinforcement of ergonomics recommendations in terms of reducing non-neutral postures may be necessary.TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: Over the past 30 years, work has become more sedentary due to increased computer desk work, which has led to the development of major health consequences such as obesity and diabetes. One promising intervention for decreasing sedentariness is the incorporation of active workstations. Objective: We investigated the impact of two active workstations (standing and walking) on workload, task performance, and postural and physiological responses during standard office work tasks. Methods: Using a counterbalanced, within-subjects design, 30 subjects (aged 23.2 [3.1] years) were tested in three workstations: sitting, standing, and walking. A battery of simulated office tasks, including mousing, keyboarding, and cognition tasks, were presented in a randomized order during each trial. Subjective workload was assessed using the NASA-Task Load Index. Performance outcomes included reaction time, number of errors, and total task time. Physiological responses included percent heart rate reserve and heart rate variability. Neck, trunk, and shoulder inclination angles were analyzed to identify differences between workstations with respect to working posture. Results: Compared to sitting, standing and walking both resulted in significantly higher objective measures of workload. While use of walking workstation led to significantly decreased performance on fine motor control tasks, standing did not reduce performance and resulted in improved mousing performance. Both standing and walking allowed for more variability in posture. There was also an indication of more deviation from idle sitting posture while standing and walking compared to sitting. Conclusions: This study contributes to the guidance needed for the use of active workstations, to take advantage of the potential health benefits without sacrificing performance or substantially increasing workload. A standing workstation, properly adjusted based on user anthropometry and ergonomics recommendations, decreased sedentary time, allowed for more postural variability, and enhanced performance on some mousing and cognition tasks, while perceived workload remained consistent with levels while seated.

Active workstation allows office workers to work efficiently while sitting and exercising moderately

ObjectiveTo determine the effects of a moderate-intensity active workstation on time and error during simulated office work. MethodsThe aim of the study was to analyse simultaneous work and exercise for non-sedentary office workers. We monitored oxygen uptake, heart rate, sweating stains area, self-perceived effort, typing test time with typing error count and cognitive performance during 30 min of exercise with no cycling or cycling at 40 and 80 W. ResultsCompared baseline, we found increased physiological responses at 40 and 80 W, which corresponds to moderate physical activity (PA). Typing time significantly increased by 7.3% (p = 0.002) in C40W and also by 8.9% (p = 0.011) in C80W. Typing error count and cognitive performance were unchanged. ConclusionsAlthough moderate intensity exercise performed on cycling workstation during simulated office tasks increases working task execution time with, it has moderate effect size; however, it does not increase the error rate. Participants confirmed that such a working design is suitable for achieving the minimum standards for daily PA during work hours.

Comparison of the postural and physiological effects of two dynamic workstations to conventional sitting and standing workstations

Increasing evidence is being found for the association of health risk factors with work-related physical inactivity. An increasing number of people are being exposed to this form of inactivity, and as a result, various interventions aimed at increasing physical activity during working hours are being developed. This study aims to investigate the differences in postural, muscular and physical activities resulting from two dynamic workstations, namely an elliptical trainer and a treadmill workstation, compared with a conventional sitting and standing workstation. Twelve participants completed five standardised office tasks in a laboratory setting at all workstations. No significant effect was found regarding changes in posture and the muscular activity was only significantly higher for the trapezius muscle (50th percentile: 8.1 %MVC) at the dynamic workstations. For the dynamic workstations, physical activity ranged from 4.0 to 14.9 × 10−2 g, heart rate from 14.3 to 27.5 %HRR and energy expenditure from 1.8 to 3.1 METs.Practitioner Summary:Work-related physical inactivity is associated with health risk factors. In this study, physiological and postural effects of dynamic workstations were assessed in comparison to conventional workstations. No significant effects were found regarding changes in posture and muscular activity. Physical activity, heart rate and energy expenditure increased for the dynamic workstations.

Farm management information systems: Current situation and future perspectives

Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) in agriculture have evolved from simple farm recordkeeping into sophisticated and complex systems to support production management. The purpose of current FMIS is to meet the increased demands to reduce production costs, comply with agricultural standards, and maintain high product quality and safety. This paper presents current advancements in the functionality of academic and commercial FMIS. The study focuses on open-field crop production and centeres on farm managers as the primary users and decision makers. Core system architectures and application domains, adoption and profitability, and FMIS solutions for precision agriculture as the most information-intensive application area were analyzed. Our review of commercial solutions involved the analysis of 141 international software packages, categorized into 11 functions. Cluster analysis was used to group current commercial FMIS as well as examine possible avenues for further development. Academic FMIS involved more sophisticated systems covering compliance to standards applications, automated data capture as well as interoperability between different software packages. Conversely, commercial FMIS applications targeted everyday farm office tasks related to budgeting and finance, such as recordkeeping, machinery management, and documentation, with emerging trends showing new functions related to traceability, quality assurance and sales.

Ergonomic Problems and Their Improving Measures in Office Environment of General Hospitals

Objective: The purposes of this study are to investigate ergonomic problems and to propose their improving measures in office environment of big general hospitals.BR Background: Office tasks have varying risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The first symptom resulted from the office work was recognized as an occupational disease in Korea in 1986. Although the symptoms have increased since its first recognition, there has been few study on the effect of office work environment settings.BR Method: First, the author took pictures of working scenes performed in three big university hospitals. Next, the pictures were analyzed in view point of ergonomics. Based on the analysis, their improving measures were proposed for reducing work stress.BR Results: The results showed that most physical office environment settings such as dimensions of tables/desks and chairs, leg room, thigh, knee and foot clearances, and chairs used did not satisfy the ergonomically recommended design guidelines. In addition, some clerks placed personal belongings under their desks, put monitors in high position and did not lean against the backrest of chairs in seated tasks, which resulted in poor working postures of leg, back, neck etc. It is recommended that the hospital management should provide their clerks with ergonomically designed office furniture and continuously perform ergonomics training program for raising clerks’ recognition for office ergonomics.BR Conclusion: Most office environment settings investigated in this study were not in good condition in view point of ergonomic design for the settings.BR Application: It would be useful as basic data for establishing ergonomically good office environment in hospitals.

The Relationship Between Tenure and Outside Director Task Involvement: A Social Identity Perspective

Drawing from corporate governance research and social identity theory, the authors argue that the relationship between outside directors’ time in office and outside director task involvement is more complex than generally anticipated. By using a unique multisource data set composed of peer ratings provided by fellow outside directors rating a focal director’s task involvement, this study analyzes director task involvement at the individual director level of analysis. The authors propose and empirically demonstrate that outside director tenure has an inverted U-shaped relationship with outside director task involvement that is moderated by a director’s social identification with the organization. As such, the authors demonstrate that social identification with the organization provides a critical contingency for the curvilinear relationship between outside director tenure and outside director task involvement. Findings suggest that outside directors who socially identify with the organization are more likely to grow “stale in the saddle” at lower levels of tenure. These findings provide support for the merit of analyzing outside directors at the individual level of analysis and suggest that a “one-size-fits-all” approach may not be most appropriate in assessing the effects of tenure on outside director functioning.

The nature of complexity facing novice designers in a constraint satisfaction task

This paper examines the effects of different types of complexity facing novice designers in constraint satisfaction tasks. The nature of the complexity in a design task was varied by manipulating different aspects of the extrinsic constraints, which refer to restrictions concerning how design components can be assembled. We investigated the effect of the number of constraints (Study 1) and the number of different types of constraint (Study 2) in a simulated office design task. Results indicated that tackling a design task with a greater number of constraints, or more types of constraint, resulted in decrements in performance. Study 3 examined the effect of reasoning about constraints that involved a fixed location in the office layout and those that did not. It was found that having a higher proportion of constraints that referenced a fixed location led to better design performance. The theoretical and practical aspects of these results are discussed.Practitioner summary: This paper identifies sources of constraint complexity facing the novice designer in an office design task. Three features of constraints proved problematic: the number of constraints, the number of types of constraint and whether the constraint involved a specific location. Training and decision support solutions are discussed.

Planning and organization of neutralization project of chemically-active sunken objects

The main tasks that decided by enterprise to neutralize chemically-active sunken objects are considered in the article. A list of high-tech works for neutralization that gives a theoretical basis for the detailed planning and carrying out the necessary research is formulated. Gantt chart is designed to perform a basic design work, calculated on an annual cycle of their conduct. It is justified the project office creation as the most effective structure for design work organization to neutralize chemically-active sunken objects at the lowest cost to own operation. It is suggested the creation of a project office in structure of predictive monitoring group, as the institutional framework to address the main objectives of the project to neutralize chemically-active sunken objects. The priorities of predictive monitoring group to consider the specific factors in the area of disposal works are formulated. The list of project office tasks associated with the management of knowledge and value of the project is determined and the peculiarities of project knowledge management planning are detected. A list of high-tech works with developed Gantt chart can serve as a theoretical basis for development of administrative tasks of project office management, which is necessary for its creation and successful functioning of UPDO neutralization work.

Electrophysiological indices of visual food cue-reactivity. Differences in obese, overweight and normal weight women

Heightened food cue-reactivity in overweight and obese individuals has been related to aberrant functioning of neural circuitry implicated in motivational behaviours and reward-seeking. Here we explore the neurophysiology of visual food cue-reactivity in overweight and obese women, as compared with normal weight women, by assessing differences in cortical arousal and attentional processing elicited by food and neutral image inserts in a Stroop task with record of EEG spectral band power and ERP responses. Results show excess right frontal (F8) and left central (C3) relative beta band activity in overweight women during food task performance (indicative of pronounced early visual cue-reactivity) and blunted prefrontal (Fp1 and Fp2) theta band activity in obese women during office task performance (suggestive of executive dysfunction). Moreover, as compared to normal weight women, food images elicited greater right parietal (P4) ERP P200 amplitude in overweight women (denoting pronounced early attentional processing) and shorter right parietal (P4) ERP P300 latency in obese women (signifying enhanced and efficient maintained attentional processing). Differential measures of cortical arousal and attentional processing showed significant correlations with self-reported eating behaviour and body shape dissatisfaction, as well as with objectively assessed percent fat mass. The findings of the present study suggest that heightened food cue-reactivity can be neurophysiologically measured, that different neural circuits are implicated in the pathogenesis of overweight and obesity, and that EEG techniques may serve useful in the identification of endophenotypic markers associated with an increased risk of externally mediated food consumption.

IMPLEMENTASI TUGAS DAN WEWENANG PENYIDIK TERHADAP PERLINDUNGAN PENYU HIJAU

The research of officer task and authority implementation towards green turtle conservation (study case of Marine Police Directorate Regional Bali) aims to describing and analizing officer task and authority implementation in deep based on both KUHAP or Conservation Law. Besides, this research also aims to figure out the enabling and inhibiting factors in implementing officer task and authority towards green turtle conservation, also researching the steps taken by of Marine Police Directorate Regional Bali. The need for green turtle in Bali is rising up to this time. Although many criminal offensers got caught by of Marine Police Directorate Regional Bali officers but it is still going on. Based on this situation, a question arises how is the implementation of officer task and authority towards green turtle conservation and what are the enabling and inhibiting factors. The method used in this research is empirical legal research with descriptive research using prime and secondary data resouces with interview and also related available documents. This research uses non probability sampling technique which is purpose sampling with quota sampling that is a process of sample withdrawing by observing the easiest sample to take and the sample has special features that attracts the researcher. With all collected data, managed using qualitative analysis and the data presented descriptively and sistematically. Based on the research done before, it is noticed that the implementation of officer task and authority towards green turtle conservation based on KUHAP and Conservation Law has been going well. Granting rights for the suspects of green turtle trading during the investigation has been done by the officers based on KUHAP. The factors which becomes the enabling task for officer task and authority towards green turtle is the law factor, law enforcement, equipment and facilities, and culture. Meanwhile the society factor is the main inhibiting factor for implementing officer task and authority towards green turtle conservation. The habit of consuming turtle meat and guise of religious ceremony are mostly used as the reasons in trading this protected animal.

Degree of eye opening: A new discomfort glare indicator

The degree of eye opening (DEO) is proposed as a new indicator of glare in sunny climates in the presence of direct sunlight. A laboratory experiment was carried out (n = 20) in a simulated office space where volunteers performed computer office tasks. Four lighting situations, based on ranges of vertical illuminance at the eye level were evaluated. By means of a visible spectrum eye-tracker DEO was registered in each scenario. The proposed indicator was obtained by mathematical iterations and showed a good correlation with: vertical illuminance at the eye (r = −0.503; α = 0.0001), Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) (r = −0.649; α = 0.0001) and Glare Sensation Vote (GSV) (r = −0.580; α = 0.0001). This new indicator operates in a broad range of lighting conditions, from a low vertical illuminance at the eye scenario with diffuse daylight to a very high vertical illuminance at the eye scenario with uncontrolled direct sunlight. The proposed new indicator satisfies the following criteria: high validity, reliability, diagnostic power and acceptability and it also addresses unresolved aspects of current glare predictive models: GSV, DGP and DGI.

Analysis of Occupants’ Visual Perception to Refine Indoor Lighting Environment for Office Tasks

The combined effects of color temperature and illuminance in a small office on visual response and mood under various lighting conditions were examined in this study. Visual annoyance tests were conducted using a sample of 20 subjects in a full-scale mock-up test space. Computer and paper-based reading tasks were conducted for 500 lx and 750 lx illuminance levels under 3,000 K, 4,000 K and 6,500 K conditions. Two hypotheses were considered for the test in this study. The primary hypothesis was that visual perception is affected by the color temperatures of light sources. The secondary hypothesis was that better moods, such as relaxed and cozy feelings, are associated with low color temperatures given equal illuminance levels. The visual environment under the 3,000 K condition was characterized by glare and brightness, resulting in visual discomfort when target illuminance was higher than 500 lx. Occupants preferred 500 lx under the 6,500 K condition, and 500 lx and 750 lx under the 4,000 K condition, reporting better visual satisfaction when performing office tasks. Prediction models for visual comfort suggest that the less that subjects are visually bothered by light during tasks, the more visual comfort they feel. User satisfaction with light source color is critical for the prediction of visual comfort under different lighting conditions. Visual comfort was the most influential factor on mood. Lower color temperature was associated with better mood at lower illuminance levels, while higher color temperature was preferred at higher illuminance levels.

Effects of a standing and three dynamic workstations on computer task performance and cognitive function tests

Sedentary work entails health risks. Dynamic (or active) workstations, at which computer tasks can be combined with physical activity, may reduce the risks of sedentary behaviour. The aim of this study was to evaluate short term task performance while working on three dynamic workstations: a treadmill, an elliptical trainer, a bicycle ergometer and a conventional standing workstation. A standard sitting workstation served as control condition. Fifteen Dutch adults performed five standardised but common office tasks in an office-like laboratory setting. Both objective and perceived work performance were measured. With the exception of high precision mouse tasks, short term work performance was not affected by working on a dynamic or a standing workstation. The participant's perception of decreased performance might complicate the acceptance of dynamic workstations, although most participants indicate that they would use a dynamic workstation if available at the workplace.

Glare indicators: an analysis of ocular behaviour in an office equipped with venetian blinds

This article studies the ocular behaviour of office workers in the presence of glare. Additionally, the study seeks to obtain a new indicator for glare prediction that compensates the inaccuracies of glare predicted by the existing models of glare sensation vote (GSV), daylight glare probability (DGP) and daylight glare index. A laboratory experiment was carried out (n = 18) simulating an office space. The volunteers participated in four office tasks (reading from a screen and from a paper, writing and socializing). Two scenarios were evaluated: one with sunspots on the faces of the subjects and the other with sunspots on the working area. By means of a visible spectrum eye tracker these ocular parameters were registered: direction of gaze, the degree of opening of eye and pupil size. These ocular parameters were correlated with vertical illuminance at the eye. The results show that the degree of reduction of opening of the eye was the best predictor of visual discomfort with statistically significant differences between scenarios (p = –0.728, s = 0.001). The other important predictor was the pupil size. The degree of opening of eye and pupil size was correlated with glare indices. The degree of eye opening has a good correlation with GSV and DGP and it could be a future index of visual comfort under situations of the risk of glare.

Is driving in a hot vehicle safe?

Purpose: This paper investigates the thermal conditions inside a passenger car driven after it was left a few hours in a shade-less parking lot, and the related implications for the driving performance. Materials and methods: Experimental results for twelve tests carried out in four different vehicles are presented and discussed. Each test is characterized by means of the predicted core temperature tcore of the driver after 60 minutes, as calculated by a heat stress model. The fractional performance loss is calculated by adjusting existing algorithms for office tasks to accommodate literature data on driving-related tasks, and then re-casting the algorithm as a function of tcore instead of the air temperature ta. Results: Based on measured temperatures and humidities, fractional performance losses up to 50% are predicted even for relatively simple tasks such as keeping the vehicle on a straight course. Performance losses in excess of 75% are predicted, under the most extreme thermal conditions, for demanding tasks, such as correctly identifying a signal and reacting in due time. Conclusions: The implementation in technical standards on heat stress assessment of two new thresholds is recommended. The lower threshold, to be set at tcore ≅ 37.1 °C, is aimed at ensuring that the subject is able to carry out demanding mental tasks without appreciable performance loss, while the higher threshold, to be set at tcore ≅ 37.2 °C applies to simpler tasks.

The Family Liaison Position in High-Poverty, Urban Schools

This study examined the roles and responsibilities of family liaisons working in urban schools with enrollments characterized by high poverty, high mobility, and ethnic diversity. Results indicated that the major responsibilities of the liaisons were creating a trusting and welcoming environment, facilitating parent involvement in the school, keeping parents informed on school-related topics, and connecting parents with resources. During job shadows, family liaisons were primarily observed coordinating parent involvement activities, interacting with students, performing routine office tasks, and carrying out other duties as assigned (e.g., cafeteria supervision). To increase their effectiveness, the liaisons requested greater job clarity, more flexibility in their formal work hours, and less time spent on other duties as assigned. In general, it appeared that the family liaisons investigated in this study placed a stronger emphasis on creating a welcoming environment and establishing trust than has been found in research on family liaisons in more affluent communities.

Credit risk assessment model for Jordanian commercial banks: Neural scoring approach

Despite the increase in the number of non-performing loans and competition in the banking market, most of the Jordanian commercial banks are reluctant to use data mining tools to support credit decisions. Artificial neural networks represent a new family of statistical techniques and promising data mining tools that have been used successfully in classification problems in many domains. This paper proposes two credit scoring models using data mining techniques to support loan decisions for the Jordanian commercial banks. Loan application evaluation would improve credit decision effectiveness and control loan office tasks, as well as save analysis time and cost. Both accepted and rejected loan applications, from different Jordanian commercial banks, were used to build the credit scoring models. The results indicate that the logistic regression model performed slightly better than the radial basis function model in terms of the overall accuracy rate. However, the radial basis function was superior in identifying those customers who may default.