"Cognition, Technology & Work"

Read, Gemma J. M.; Beanland, Vanessa; Stanton, Neville A.; Grant, Eryn; Stevens, Nicholas; Lenné, Michael G.; Thomas, Miles; Mulvihill, Christine M.; Walker, Guy H.; Salmon, Paul M.

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00583-2pmid: N/A

Collisions between trains and road vehicles at rail level crossings remain an intractable transport safety issue. This paper describes the application of Rasmussen’s ecological interface design (EID) principles to the development of a novel ‘passive’ rail level crossing prototype design and its evaluation using two driving simulator studies. Study 1 involved the design of the prototype EID crossing. Study 2 compared the EID crossing design with a standard ‘active’ rail level crossing with red flashing lights under normal conditions and Study 3 compared the crossings under conditions of driver distraction and technology failure. The findings show that under normal conditions, the EID crossing produced more cautious speed on approach than the standard design, but similar patterns of decision-making. Under conditions of distraction and failure, participants again demonstrated more cautious speed profiles on approach when encountering the EID design. Importantly, in technology failure conditions, the EID design appeared to encourage participants to engage in higher level problem-solving, which was not seen in response to the standard crossing. It is concluded that the EID crossing may be more able to support adaptive decision-making under conditions of failure or uncertainty.

Naikar, Neelam; Elix, Ben

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00595-ypmid: N/A

In designing sociotechnical systems, accounting for the phenomenon of self-organisation is critical. Empirical studies show that workers in these systems adapt not just their individual behaviours, but also their collective structures to deal with complex work environments. The concept of self-organisation can explain how such adaptations can be achieved spontaneously, continuously, and relatively seamlessly, and why this phenomenon is important for dealing with instability, uncertainty, and unpredictability in the task demands. However, existing design approaches such as resilience engineering and cognitive work analysis are limited in their capacity to design for self-organisation. This paper demonstrates that the diagram of work organisation possibilities, a recent addition to cognitive work analysis, provides a sound theoretical basis for designing for self-organisation. That is, it shows how essential components of the diagram are aligned with the concept of self-organisation and are well-grounded in empirical observations of adaptation in a variety of sociotechnical systems, specifically emergency management, military, and healthcare systems. Consequently, designs based on this diagram should have the potential to facilitate the emergence of new spatial, temporal, and functional organisational structures from the flexible actions of individual, interacting actors, thereby enhancing a system’s capacity for dealing with a dynamic, ambiguous work environment. Future research should focus on validating these ideas and demonstrating their value in industrial settings.

Goode, N.; Shaw, L.; Finch, C. F.; Salmon, P. M.

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00596-xpmid: N/A

There have been several calls within the accident analysis literature to translate systems thinking-based theories and accident analysis methods into practical and usable tools for practitioners. This paper reports on the findings from a post-implementation evaluation of an incident reporting system underpinned Rasmussen’s (Saf Sci 27(2/3):183–213, 1997) risk-management framework and Accimap. An online survey was used to evaluate end-users’ use and attitudes towards the system after 12 months of implementation. While almost all respondents had used the incident reporting system to collect data, few had undertaken the required training. While the privacy and security of the system were evaluated favourably, significant problems were highlighted with usability, sustainability of the system, and utility of the data for organisations. Overall, the results highlight the significant resource constraints experienced by end-users during the implementation of the new incident reporting system. The challenges for translating a systems thinking-based approach into practice are discussed.

Deline, Stéphane; Guillet, Laurent; Rauffet, Philippe; Guérin, Clément

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00614-ypmid: N/A

In the face of increasingly prominent cyber security issues, the organization of cyber team analysts has become crucial to thwart cyber threats. Few studies have examined the functioning of the team and the interaction between individuals in a cyber defense context and how the context influences team adaptation. The present study investigates team cognition in a cyber defense context and in particular the nature of task- or team-centered communication among analysts during a cyber defense simulation exercise. Results indicate that markers of situation assessment and shared mental models are both strategically present and linked. Nevertheless, the frequency of these markers varies depending on the quantity and quality of problems encountered; in particular, variations in social support behaviors are observed. Decreasing social support behaviors during high level activities suggests the adaptation of social behaviors depending on the threats and attacks on the system. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of theories and potential consequences for strategic adaptation and team resilience.

Cofta, Piotr

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00600-4pmid: N/A

Trust tends to be described through the lens of a rational choice of a trustor driven by the trustworthiness of a trustee. This, however, does not exhaust scenarios where people seem to be comfortable trusting without having an actual choice or not trusting while having a selection of potential trustees. This paper proposes that there should be another force at work that only expresses itself through the rationality in situations of choice. It is the self-preservation that strongly influences our decisions, specifically when choices seem to diminish. Ignoring this force makes the theory of trust incomplete. This paper brings this area of social behaviour closer to computational trust by proposing a unifying model that builds on theories of social systems. It focuses specifically on the containment of complexity and the associated risk to self-preservation, where trust is not an option but a necessity. The model, by being both simple and expressive, can computationally explain several phenomena associated with trusting in situations where self-preservation may be under a threat. This is further demonstrated by several use cases.

Belletier, Clément; Charkhabi, Morteza; Pires de Andrade Silva, Gustavo; Ametepe, Kevin; Lutz, Mathieu; Izaute, Marie

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00610-2pmid: N/A

Rapid technological innovations are constantly influencing the complexification and automatization of the work lines pushing human operators to use diverse cognitive processes for supervising complex industrial machines. This urges factories to offer wearable cognitive assistants to human operators to analyze, integrate and maintain a considerable amount of information. The aim of this review is twofold. First, we borrow theoretical elements from the working memory literature to question the way these wearable cognitive assistants could optimize human operators’ cognitive load. Second, we argue that Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Job Characteristics Model (JCM) may theoretically predict the effectiveness of cognitive wearable assistants in enhancing the person–job fit, namely their cognitive performance and well-being. A critical review method was used to collect and summarize the most studied models associated with application of wearable devices in the workplace. Our review suggests that the current literature on working memory give useful insights concerning the way in which information should be displayed to operators to optimize the efficiency of wearable cognitive assistants. Moreover, JCM suggests original explanations on the way they can facilitate access to information and in turn increase job satisfaction. Finally, a small number of studies that used TAM with wearable devices in an industrial setting provide some interesting theoretical and empirical evidence on the acceptance of wearable cognitive assistants. As a conclusion, we argue that using wearable cognitive assistants properly would enhance both cognitive performance and well-being of human operators through promoting the person–job fit.

Aronsson, Sanna; Artman, Henrik; Brynielsson, Joel; Lindquist, Sinna; Ramberg, Robert

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00605-zpmid: N/A

Simulator training is becoming increasingly important for training of time-critical and dynamic situations. Hence, how simulator training in such domains is planned, carried out and followed up becomes important. Based on a model prescribing such crucial aspects, ten decision-making training simulator facilities have been analyzed from an activity theoretical perspective. The analysis reveals several conflicts that exist between the training that is carried out and the defined training objectives. Although limitations in technology and organization are often alleviated by proficient instructors, it is concluded that there is a need for a structured approach to the design of training to be able to define the competencies and skills that ought to be trained along with relevant measurable training goals. Further, there is a need for a pedagogical model that takes the specifics of simulator training into account. Such a pedagogical model is needed to be able to evaluate the training, and would make it possible to share experiences and make comparisons between facilities in a structured manner.

Ahmad, Ali; Ghaleb, Mageed; Darmoul, Saber; Alkahtani, Mohammed; Samman, Shatha

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00615-xpmid: N/A

Research on human multitasking suggests several measures to evaluate performance. However, the suggested measures evaluate performance either when tasks are performed sequentially, or when tasks are performed in a parallel manner. There is a lack of models with performance measures that consider concurrently sequential and parallel task execution. This paper aims to develop a measure of human performance that considers both sequential and parallel execution of tasks in multitasking conditions. First, the literature is reviewed to select a taxonomy to model the features and execution of tasks during multitasking. Task features include a list of tasks, task demands (in terms of physical, psychological, and emotional loads), and coordination between tasks (in terms of priorities, similarities, dependence, and time constraints). Task execution is represented as a network of sequential and overlapping tasks. Second, a set of measures are identified to evaluate human performance in multitasking conditions. The analysis of literature suggests a task switching cost model for sequential task execution and a task interference ratio when tasks are executed in parallel. To enable combining switching cost (i.e., sequential execution) and interference ratio (i.e., parallel execution) in multitasking conditions, a classification scheme based on tasks’ modalities is utilized. Finally, the developed model is applied to different scenarios.

Asplund, Fredrik; Ulfvengren, Pernilla

doi: 10.1007/s10111-019-00616-wpmid: N/A

To perform as intended, firms are divided into work functions that contribute to the behaviour-shaping constraints under which individuals build their skills, knowledge and networks. These in turn provide a specialized perspective on organisational structure and culture. In a mixed methods study involving interviews and statistical analyses, we investigate whether a work function can thereby affect individuals’ innovation foci and efficacy. Safety engineers, central to firms developing Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), are shown to play a significant role in identifying and supporting viable innovation related to organisational aspects. Results indicate that safety engineers could use the firm’s collaborative innovation process to facilitate organisational learning, helping different work functions come together to construct working practices aligned with the organisational values of the firm. This is explained by their understanding of safety culture—a specialized understanding of organisational culture and complexity provided by their work function. We conclude that work functions that provide their members with a perspective well aligned with their firm’s organisational values can instil the ability to identify and support organisational innovation. This suggests that safety engineers in CPS domains could be effective in a mediatory role, facilitating innovative changes to organisational structures and processes when introducing and operating safety management systems. Stronger aspects of organisational liaising and systems thinking could reinforce this ability—the former by a wider scope and motivation leading to an increased skill in communicating with dissimilar individuals, and the latter by providing the skills and tools needed to analyse the politics of complex organisations.