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Funeral workers (FWs) work within increasingly medicalized and commodified death-management systems. This study explored Worker Health and Safety (WHS) impacts in contemporary death management on Australian and Irish FWs. Mixed methods combined a survey and interviews. Survey data were descriptively summarized, interviews thematically analyzed, and a schematic systems model developed of the combined results. Survey participants (n = 45) reported psychosocial hazards from work pressures, competition, and fatigue. Psychosocial hazards were more frequently reported than physical hazards by Australian FWs. Physical hazards were of greater concern to Irish FWs. Themes from 11 interviews were: Personal Attributes, Work Demands, and Socio-Cultural Context. All FWs reported conflicts between individual capacities, work demands, and resources, resulting in hazardous personal states including difficulty sleeping and stress. Respectfully manually handling human remains and "event management" demands for increasingly elaborate funerals created negative WHS impacts. This research informs risk management for FWs and other workers in the increasingly complex death-care industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency department (ED) disposition decision-making represents a critical juncture in patients’ care journeys, as it shapes the type of care patients access following an ED visit. However, there is a dearth of information related to how and in what context the disposition decision-making occurs. We conducted a scoping review to synthesize what previous studies reveal about the ED work system elements that influence disposition decision-making. A dual-coding screening process identified 27 articles from database searches. Articles were extracted and analyzed using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model. Most articles included at least two work system components. Our results suggest that the literature captures only some of the complexity of disposition decision-making, leaving certain elements underexplored or limited in scope. This review identifies informational gaps that, if addressed by future research, will support ED system redesigns that optimize patient, clinician, and organizational outcomes.

Abstract Background Like most hospitals, our hospital experienced COVID-19 pandemic-related supply chain shortages. Our additive manufacturing lab’s capacity to offset these shortages was soon overwhelmed, leading to a need to improve the efficiency of our existing workflow. We undertook a work system analysis guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) construct which is based on human factors and quality improvement principles. Our objective was to understand the inefficiencies in project submission, review, and acceptance decisions, and make systematic improvements to optimize lab operations. Methods Contextual inquiry (interviews and workflow analysis) revealed suboptimal characteristics of the system, specifically, reliance on a single person to facilitate work and, at times, fractured communication with project sponsors, with root causes related to the project intake and evaluation process as identified through SEIPS tools. As interventions, the analysis led us to: 1) enhance an existing but underused project submission form, 2) design and implement an internal project scorecard to standardize evaluation of requests, and 3) distribute the responsibility of submission evaluation across lab members. We implemented these interventions in May 2021 for new projects and compare them to our baseline February 1, 2018 through – April 30, 2021 performance (1184 days). Results All project requests were submitted using the enhanced project submission form and all received a standardized evaluation with the project scorecard. Prior to interventions, we completed 35/79 (44%) of projects, compared to 12/20 (60%) of projects after interventions were implemented. Time to review new submissions was reduced from an average of 58 days to 4 days. A more distributed team responsibility structure permitted improved workflow with no increase in staffing, allowing the Lab Manager to devote more time to engineering rather than administrative/decision tasks. Conclusions By optimizing our workflows utilizing a human factors approach, we improved the work system of our additive manufacturing lab to be responsive to the urgent needs of the pandemic. The current workflow provides insights for labs aiming to meet the growing demand for point-of-care manufacturing.

This paper explores the development of two theories of human behavior as they relate to work systems. Both Murray Bowen and Barry Oshry formulated theories of how people operate in groups. Bowen developed his theory through observation of families and extended his thinking to apply more broadly. Oshry observed work systems in his lab and thought what he saw there could also be true in families and society at large. Practitioners have applied both theories in their work with groups. However, neither theory has received much attention in terms of the theoretical concepts they contain or the processes the theoreticians used to generate them. The purpose of this paper is to examine the methods these two theorists use to create their frameworks, compare and contrast the theories they posited as a result, and consider the possible future development for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workarounds are deviations in the execution of designed, de jure, work processes. Process mining research has developed methods for unobtrusive workaround analysis using process-aware systems’ datasets. This study applies process mining for workaround analysis in a medium-sized enterprise (SME). SME contexts can be challenging for workaround mining because SMEs often lack de jure process designs and their process-supportive information systems may have ambiguous semantics. The identification of de jure models and the solving of systems data ambiguities are the first steps in workarounds identification. A semantically well-defined information system may enable factual, de facto, process mining. Comparing the de jure and de facto process models may give candidate workarounds. Our study shows that (1) incomplete de jure models hinder the use of process mining for detecting workarounds, and (2) human interpretation of process mining outcomes is needed to realize a useful triple loop organizational learning from workarounds mining.

Background: Like most hospitals, our hospital experienced COVID-19 pandemic-related supply chain shortages. Our additive manufacturing lab's capacity to offset these shortages was soon overwhelmed, leading to a need to improve the efficiency of our existing workflow. We undertook a work system analysis guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) construct which is based on human factors and quality improvement principles. Our objective was to understand the inefficiencies in project submission, review, and acceptance decisions, and make systematic improvements to optimize lab operations. Methods: Contextual inquiry (interviews and workflow analysis) revealed suboptimal characteristics of the system, specifically, reliance on a single person to facilitate work and, at times, fractured communication with project sponsors, with root causes related to the project intake and evaluation process as identified through SEIPS tools. As interventions, the analysis led us to: 1) enhance an existing but underused project submission form, 2) design and implement an internal project scorecard to standardize evaluation of requests, and 3) distribute the responsibility of submission evaluation across lab members. We implemented these interventions in May 2021 for new projects and compare them to our baseline February 1, 2018 through – April 30, 2021 performance (1184 days). Results: All project requests were submitted using the enhanced project submission form and all received a standardized evaluation with the project scorecard. Prior to interventions, we completed 35/79 (44%) of projects, compared to 12/20 (60%) of projects after interventions were implemented. Time to review new submissions was reduced from an average of 58 days to 4 days. A more distributed team responsibility structure permitted improved workflow with no increase in staffing, allowing the Lab Manager to devote more time to engineering rather than administrative/decision tasks. Conclusions: By optimizing our workflows utilizing a human factors approach, we improved the work system of our additive manufacturing lab to be responsive to the urgent needs of the pandemic. The current workflow provides insights for labs aiming to meet the growing demand for point-of-care manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With ubiquitous, mobile computing, health care systems, and smart factories, socio-technical phenomena continue to emerge that challenge traditional design and evaluation methods. We perceive such phenomena as the intertwinement of technical artifacts and social practices. Previous work shows that there is no sufficient method to evaluate the quality of this socio-technical intertwinement. Hence, our goal was to develop socio-technical heuristics, in short ST-heuristics, that can be applied by individuals to detect issues. Drawing inspiration from the success of usability heuristics in the field of human–computer interaction, we first applied a literature review to develop an initial set of ST-heuristics derived from six domains comprising groupware/computer-support cooperative work, job design, usability, socio-technical design principles, privacy, and process design. We then conducted two studies to evaluate and improve this set using empirical data from 13 cases from health care, industry, and engineering education fields. In total, we analysed 306 problems. The results substantiate a final set of eight ST-heuristics which allow for evaluating the socio-technical intertwinement in situ. We perceive the contribution of this work as a starting point for evaluators to uncover crucial issues and to improve current practice. We discuss the developed set of ST-heuristics within existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) as a framework for academic development, work environment, and promotion among faculty in higher education. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach that employed both quantitative tools with an administered survey and quali-tative interactions using the interview process was used. Participants were recruited using a systematic and random sampling approach of faculty in Thailand and selected international institutions. Findings: Four hundred and sixty-three participants, including 236 from Thailand and 227 from international institutions, completed the survey with 20 participants from each of Thailand and international insti-tutions involved in interviews. HPWS as a theoretical framework in the academic environment was associated with academic development and promotion (p<0.001). Differences were identified in the performance indicators and promotion criteria between Thailand and international participants. Social inequality, disproportionate administrative decision-making, and wellness towards promoting a healthy work and life balance emerged as central themes. Practical implications: Study findings consistent through comparative literature, statistical testing, and saturation of inter-view responses revealed that HPWS as a theoretical framework in human resource management ap-plies to academic development and promotion experiences in higher education. Originality/value: The paper could continue the evaluation and application of HPWS as a human resource framework towards the mutual benefit of performance and promotion of faculty and higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the development of two theories of human behavior as they relate to work systems. Both Murray Bowen and Barry Oshry formulated theories of how people operate in groups. Bowen developed his theory through observation of families and extended his thinking to apply more broadly. Oshry observed work systems in his lab and thought what he saw there could also be true in families and society at large. Practitioners have applied both theories in their work with groups. However, neither theory has received much attention in terms of the theoretical concepts they contain or the processes the theoreticians used to generate them. The purpose of this paper is to examine the methods these two theorists use to create their frameworks, compare and contrast the theories they posited as a result, and consider the possible future development for them.

This study examines the performance of cognitive work—as constrained by physical, policy and resource-related factors—in the near-simultaneous design and execution of disaster response operations. The demands of the situation described here—the removal of debris from a high-value barrier island in the US state of New York after Hurricane Sandy (2012)—lay at the far boundaries of the responding organizations' experience, making this case an excellent candidate for study. Data are analyzed on the deliberative processes of the responding organization in order to characterize the interaction between the design and operation of the debris removal network over time. Statistical data modeling of these processes reveals a number of temporal dependencies between ideation and decision-making processes, as well as between components of the system. The illumination and quantification of these processes using data produced through normal operations contributes significantly to theories of the cognitive and behavioral phenomena that underlie organizational response to highly non-routine events, thus building upon broader theories of organizational improvisation and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to maintain competitiveness, more and more firms are moving towards business models that integrate equipment, goods and services, such as in a product-service system (PSS), with a view to delivering value. This transition requires a shift in business thinking for developing arrangements to provide integrated product-service (PS) offerings that are sustainable, technical and/or marketable. The aim of this article is to offer insights into work systems for providing integrated PS offerings by competitive firms. It adopts ‘work system theory’ as a research lens and an inductive multiple-case logic consisting of an in-depth exploratory study of four competitive micro-engineering firms, to capture ‘what’ and ‘how’ information and service systems contribute to the sustainability, technical and marketability themes for competitiveness using PSSs. The article finds that technical requirements of competitive PSSs are best fulfilled in work systems that emphasise individual timeliness/ buy-ins, synchronous communications managed by strategic roles and tie-ins offered by service contracts. The study also revealed an emphasis, by the case firms, on relationship building and policy implementation for achieving PSS marketability and sustainability, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of current study is to identify what visions those students are expecting to graduate and soon enter the labor market have regarding work systems in the light of changes in Omani society. It also aims to investigate the compatibility of these visions with modern work requirements. A questionnaire, containing qualitative and quantitative questions, was distributed among (230) students (both males and females) who expected to graduate in 2013. Results showed that participants agreed that job advertisement must include job title, financial degree, and its requirements. In addition, work systems must respect society’s traditions, provide appropriate specialization, provide training for staff according to an annual plan, allow overtime during working days or holidays, double overtime work wage, and avoid preference in work wage according to gender, race, or religion. Results also showed that more than half of the study sample prefers working in the public sector rather than the private sector or entrepreneurship, and there is a duality in students’ visions regarding work systems between traditional orientations and modern orientations.

A survey of human factors practitioners working in health care was administered to understand their challenges and successes encountered when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus areas identified by survey respondents related to workflow, physical environments, communication, and implementation of new technologies. The results from this study can be used by human factors practitioners to demonstrate the common challenges and opportunities for applying human factors to system redesign within their health care organizations. These findings can also be used to encourage investments in human factors by health care organizations and the federal government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of studies have demonstrated visual schedules and work systems to be effective in assisting students on the autism spectrum to stay on task and work independently. However, evidence of effectiveness does not ensure a timely implementation of interventions in applied educational contexts. The translatability of interventions depends, to a large extent, on their contextual fit and how they are perceived by those that will use them. This mixed methods study examined general education teachers' responses to an information toolkit outlining the use of visual schedules and work systems as inclusive, whole-class practices. While teachers regarded the toolkit positively, their responses also offer insights into potential barriers to implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing skills for functional independence is important to gain employment, engage in postsecondary education, and live independently. Unfortunately, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with functional independence skills needed to complete common, everyday tasks. This study examined the effects of work systems to increase independent task initiation and completion of tasks in home settings completed by three adolescents with ASD. The work systems were implemented by parents. Results indicated parent-implemented work systems are effective at increasing the task initiation and completion of everyday tasks, completed by adolescents with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a risk factor for hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Much PPI use is inappropriate, and interventions to reduce PPI use, such as for stress ulcer prophylaxis in all critically ill patients, are essential to reduce CDI rates. This mixed-methods study in a combined medical-surgical intensive care unit at a tertiary academic medical center used a human factors engineering approach to understand barriers and facilitators to optimizing PPI prescribing in these patients. We performed chart review of patients for whom PPIs were prescribed to evaluate prescribing practices. Semistructured provider interviews were conducted to determine barriers and facilitators to reducing unnecessary PPI use. Emergent themes from provider interviews were classified according to the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model. In our intensive care unit, 25% of PPI days were not clinically indicated. Barriers to optimizing PPI prescribing included inadequate provider education, lack of institutional guidelines for stress ulcer prophylaxis, and strong institutional culture favoring PPI use. Potential facilitators included increased pharmacy oversight, provider education, and embedded decision support in the electronic medical record. Interventions addressing barriers noted by front line providers are needed to reduce unnecessary PPI use, and future studies should assess the impact of such interventions on CDI rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specialty referral process consists of primary care clinicians referring patients to specialty consultants. This care transition requires effective care coordination and health information exchange between care teams; however, breakdowns in workflow and information flow impede "closing the referral loop" and delay or prevent referrers from receiving the consultant's "visit notes," particularly in cross-institutional referrals. This study aimed to describe and map the referral process as it occurs in clinics and identify and characterize work system barriers affecting its performance. Referrers and consultants were interviewed about their perceived workflows, barriers, and clinical outcomes to inform a workflow analysis. • Hidden, nested operational processes are critical to "closing the referral loop.". • Barriers were most commonly associated with technology and organizational factors. • Updated clinician directories and meaningful notifications could reduce barriers. • Locus of responsibility for the information exchange to close the loop is ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite efforts to prevent health care–associated infections (HAIs), these infections continue to challenge health care systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes implementation of evidence-based practices. Within the complex health care environment, sustained implementation calls for work systems that harness expertise of interprofessional teams, which, in turn, calls for suitable executive, mid-level, and local leadership. The purpose of this review is to highlight the need to study leadership when using a systems approach to reduce HAIs. This is a scoping review of HAI studies that used a systems engineering model called the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model. We examined if and how leadership was addressed within 1 systems approach. We found 15 studies using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model and, of these, leadership was directly mentioned in 3 studies. In the remaining studies, reference to leadership may be inferred by use of terms such as teamwork, managerial oversight, climate and culture, staffing support, and institutional/administrative support. Research is needed to bring recognition of the role of leadership within a work systems approach to reducing HAIs. We need further examination of leadership attributes and communication behaviors that allow staff to diffuse and sustain best practices to prevent HAIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apparent differences in executive function can lead to challenges for students on the autism spectrum in mainstream settings. Difficulties with staying on‐task and transitioning between tasks and task elements can interfere with students’ participation in educational activities and lead to stress and anxiety. While the use of visual supports, such as visual schedules and work systems, has been shown to be effective in supporting students to stay on‐task in special education and autism‐specific settings, there is little research to support the use of these strategies by teachers in mainstream classrooms. This study evaluated the use of visual schedules and work systems in supporting four students on the autism spectrum to stay on‐task and work independently in a mainstream setting. These strategies were implemented by teachers as inclusive practices, and evaluated using observations within the natural classroom environment to examine their feasibility in mainstream settings. All participants demonstrated improvements in on‐task behaviours. Results for other, secondary, dependent variables were mixed, with some students showing reduced off‐task behaviours and increased productivity. The implications for clinical practice and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the vast amount of studies on Le Corbusier, it is surprising that there are only scant reflections on the role that Pierre Jeanneret played in a work that, for the large part, can be understood as a joint project. The existing literature on Pierre Jeanneret cannot be d=escribed as anything more than paltry. This reaffirms the image of a figure which seems rather enigmatic and always in the shadows. In this article three key factors of his work will be considered; his professional development, his relationship with Le Corbusier, and his work in Chandigarh.

In the construction industry, recent literature has promoted a design for safety approach that discusses the benefits of considering safety from the very start of the project lifecycle. With this approach, non-construction personnel, such as owners and designers, need to work alongside constructors and subcontractors to consider safety during design and procurement stages of a project. This is a difficult process, particularly with the degree of fragmentation in the industry. Safety climate survey instruments have been developed to identify these sources of fragmentation among stakeholder groups, but most of these tools are directed toward on-site construction personnel. This paper describes the development of an inter-organizational safety climate instrument for measuring attitudes toward safety of construction industry stakeholders including owners, designers, construction managers, and subcontractors. Overall, the measurement model demonstrated a good fit with the data based on a confirmatory factor analysis. Therefore, the survey instrument provides a useful tool for researchers and practitioners to identify the sources of fragmentation in attitudes of construction project personnel toward worker safety that can affect occupational health and safety within the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Arts & Social Sciences (JASS) is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Health care workers (HCWs) are recommended to wear nonsterile clinical gloves (NSCG) for direct contact with blood and body fluids. However, there is evidence of extensive inappropriate NSCG use. Methods A mixed-methods study comprising observation of NSCG use in 2 acute hospitals and semistructured HCW interviews. Qualitative data were categorized using thematic analysis. Findings were mapped to the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model and used to develop a strategy for improving NSCG use. Results Two hundred seventy-eight procedures performed in 178 episodes of care involved the use of NSCG. NSCG were inappropriate for 59% of procedures (165 out of 278). Risk of cross-contamination occurred in 49% (87 out of 178) episodes. Twenty-six HCWs were interviewed; emotion and socialization were key factors influencing decisions to use NSCG. Data from observation and thematic analysis were mapped to 6 interacting components of the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety work system. Interventions targeting each component informed quality improvement strategies Conclusions Despite intense promotion of hand hygiene as the key measure to protect patients from health care-associated infection, NSCG dominate routine clinical practice and potential cross-contamination occurs in 50% of care episodes. Such practice is associated with significant environmental and financial costs and adversely affects patient safety. The application of human factors and ergonomics to the complex drivers of inappropriate NSCG behavior may be more effective than conventional approaches of education and policy in achieving the goal of preventing health care-associated infection and improving patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory simulation (PS) is a method to involve workers in simulating and designing their own future work system. Existing PS studies have focused on analysing the outcome, and minimal attention has been devoted to the process of creating this outcome. In order to study this process, we suggest applying a knowledge creation perspective. The aim of this study was to develop a framework describing the process of how ergonomics knowledge is created in PS. Video recordings from three projects applying PS of hospital work systems constituted the foundation of process mining analysis. The analysis resulted in a framework revealing the sources of ergonomics knowledge creation as sequential relationships between the activities of simulation participants sharing work experiences; experimenting with scenarios; and reflecting on ergonomics consequences. We argue that this framework reveals the hidden steps of PS that are essential when planning and facilitating PS that aims at designing work systems. Practitioner Summary:When facilitating participatory simulation (PS) in work system design, achieving an understanding of the PS process is essential. By applying a knowledge creation perspective and process mining, we investigated the knowledge-creating activities constituting the PS process. The analysis resulted in a framework of the knowledge-creating process in PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the heavy engineering industrial sector numerous technical standards, ISO (International Standards Organisation) in particular, exist which invariably contain a glossary of terms providing definition within the context of the standard. However, there is a high level of ambiguity surrounding common terminology and limited consistency across these standards. Our case study company Silcar Pty Limited (Silcar) has recognised the opportunity to strategically expand its business into the provision of high value services to assist clients with the management of large and complex technical assets in heavy industry and essential service utilities. The strategic development of a knowledge management capability enables Silcar to take-on larger scale, higher value added and more flexible asset performance management propositions across a diverse range of industry, client and geographical situations. This research paper explores the concepts that support this capability and discusses the approach taken to achieve the vision of consistency on language.

Recent work design theories propose that the work design configuration (i.e. ‘work system’) in an organization interacts with its broader social and economic environment. Nevertheless, there are few studies of how the broader environment affects the work system. In the present study, the authors used a qualitative theory-elaboration approach to investigate the interplay between the broader environment and the work system in a university setting. They collected data with semi-structured interviews from a sample of 51 academic and administrative employees from a university department and a university faculty in Norway. The findings indicated that a broader environment characterized by a market-oriented model of governance was perceived to have both negative (stronger management, reduced job security and autonomy, increased demands, and exacerbated intergroup relations) and positive effects (enhanced intra-group interdependence, feedback, and support) on the work system. Taken together, the broader environment was experienced to diminish motivational and high-commitment work systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Designing innovations aligned with patients’ needs and workflows requires human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) fieldwork in home and community settings. Fieldwork in these extra-institutional settings is challenged by a need to balance the occasionally competing priorities of patient and informal caregiver participants, study team members, and the overall project. We offer several strategies that HF/E professionals can use before, during, and after home and community site visits to optimize fieldwork and mitigate challenges in these settings. Strategies include interacting respectfully with participants, documenting the visit, managing the study team–participant relationship, and engaging in dialogue with institutional review boards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new surgical checklist for veterinary cardiologists based on the literature and the application of human factors design. The checklist was developed and iterated with subject-matter experts and was implemented for 4 months, during which use of the checklist was monitored, feedback was gathered, and a final survey was distributed to assess subjective experiences. Although developed for the cardiology team, the checklist also affected the anesthesia team by requiring information and responses to be transmitted across teams. Interviews, subjective reports, and observations pointed to the fact that the checklist engendered communication, particularly by requiring the thoughts and expectations of team members to be stated explicitly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information systems success and failure are among the most prominent streams in IS research. Explanations of why some IS fulfill their expectations, whereas others fail, are complex and multi-factorial. Despite the efforts to understand the underlying factors, the IS failure rate remains stubbornly high. A Panel session was held at the IFIP Working Group 8.6 conference in Bangalore in 2013 which forms the subject of this Special Issue. Its aim was to reflect on the need for new perspectives and research directions, to provide insights and further guidance for managers on factors enabling IS success and avoiding IS failure. Several key issues emerged, such as the need to study problems from multiple perspectives, to move beyond narrow considerations of the IT artifact, and to venture into underexplored organizational contexts, such as the public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close air support is characterized by aircraft delivering munitions onto ground targets. I applied Hutchins's theory of distributed cognition to understand how the trajectories of munitions were specified. In the baseline case, the aircrew specifies the munitions' entire trajectory. With alternative options enabled by information and communications technologies, the joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) specifies the munitions' impact point, time on target, and even the direction and angle of impact. The desire to affect the trajectories increases the amount and specialization of equipment and training placed onto the JTAC, aircraft, and aircrew. The analysis was important to the people who advance and sustain the capabilities of close air support by identifying the effects that are desired and developing new and better ways of providing those effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing patient-centered consumer health informatics (CHI) applications requires understanding and creating alignment with patients' and their family members' health-related activities, referred to here as 'patient work'. A patient work approach to CHI draws on medical social science and human factors engineering models and simultaneously attends to patients, their family members, activities, and context. A patient work approach extends existing approaches to CHI design that are responsive to patients' biomedical realities and personal skills and behaviors. It focuses on the embeddedness of patients' health management in larger processes and contexts and prioritizes patients' perspectives on illness management. Future research is required to advance (1) theories of patient work, (2) methods for assessing patient work, and (3) techniques for translating knowledge of patient work into CHI application design. Advancing a patient work approach within CHI is integral to developing and deploying consumer-facing technologies that are integrated with patients' everyday lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research study was to explore possible differences, in terms of ergonomics, between conventional and organic horticulture, from the analysis of real work situations. The Ergonomic Work Analysis method was applied to four horticultural farms in Brazil, from which two of them were devoted to organic production, while the other two were associated to conventional products. The main results showed that the work systems were practically the same, differing in tasks fulfillment frequency and intensity. The workers associated to the organic horticulture experience a sense of job security which impacts favorably in the global balance of work activities. Conventional horticulture is more standardized; exhibiting more stabilized tasks, whereas the organic production was noted to be in constant experimentation. The work was found to be more complex in organic farms, needing more frequent monitoring and control; also, communication and information exchange were noted to be more intense, requiring continuous learning. Despite the fact that the physical workload was similar, there are important differences between the work in organic and conventional horticulture practices related to the fields of cognition and emotional interaction with the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dearq is the property of Universidad de los Andes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this article is to show the foundational place that communication theory and its practice occupies in functioning work systems. Design/methodology/approach - This paper defines the word communication in terms of the creation and interpretation of displays, describes what it means to have a theoretical foundation for a discipline, identifies and elaborates on the development driving force of human resource development (HRD), presents and explains a model of a work system in which HRD functions, and elaborates on the role, function, and place of communicative acts in the maintenance of the work system and the work of HRD professionals. Findings - The article posits that communication theory underlies the processes and activities of both scholars and practitioners of HRD. Finally, it argues that courses in communication theory and organizational communication are essential in the preparation of both scholars and practitioners. Research limitations/implications - Research on the vagaries of communication in work systems may need to focus on identifying the causes of more easily identified symptoms. Researchers must be constantly alert to the changing role of communication as both a symptom and a cause of effective and ineffective work system functioning. Practical implications - Since human resource development is applied, practiced, and used predominantly in work systems, sensitivity to the fundamental role that communication plays in work systems may allow HRD practitioners to take a communicative perspective in analyzing and solving problems. Originality/value - This article directs readers to the main, fundamental issue in organizations and highlights the central role of communication in the functioning and development of both the human resources and the work system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategies that promote the independent demonstration of skills across educational settings are critical for improving the accessibility of general education settings for students with ASD. This research assessed the impact of an individual work system on the accuracy of task completion and level of adult prompting across educational setting. Student accuracy and adult prompting were measured in both special and general education settings during academic work periods. Work systems, an element of structured teaching developed by Division TEACCH, are organized sets of visual information that inform a student about participation in work areas. A multiple-probe-across-participants design was used to evaluate the effects of the individual work systems. All participants demonstrated increased accuracy yet required less adult support across special and general education settings. Results were maintained when measured during a 1-month follow-up probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Although lack of time, trained personnel, and reimbursement have been identified as barriers to pharmacists providing cognitive pharmaceutical services (CPS) in community pharmacies, the underlying contributing factors of these barriers have not been explored. One approach to better understand barriers and facilitators to providing CPS is to use a work system approach to examine different components of a work system and how the components may impact care processes. Objectives: The goals of this study were to identify and describe pharmacy work system characteristics that pharmacists identified and changed to provide CPS in a demonstration program. Methods: A qualitative approach was used for data collection. A purposive sample of 8 pharmacists at 6 community pharmacies participating in a demonstration program was selected to be interviewed. Each semistructured interview was audio recorded and transcribed, and the text was analyzed in a descriptive and interpretive manner by 3 analysts. Themes were identified in the text and aligned with 1 of 5 components of the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) work system model (organization, tasks, tools/technology, people, and environment). Results: A total of 21 themes were identified from the interviews, and 7 themes were identified across all 6 interviews. The organization component of the SEIPS model contained the most (n=10) themes. Numerous factors within a pharmacy work system appear important to enable pharmacists to provide CPS. Leadership and foresight by the organization to implement processes (communication, coordination, planning, etc.) to facilitate providing CPS was a key finding across the interviews. Expanding technician responsibilities was reported to be essential for successfully implementing CPS. Conclusions: To be successful in providing CPS, pharmacists must be cognizant of the different components of the pharmacy work system and how these components influence providing CPS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Human factors/ergonomics (HFE) has great potential to contribute to the design of all kinds of systems with people (work systems, product/service systems), but faces challenges in the readiness of its market and in the supply of high-quality applications. HFE has a unique combination of three fundamental characteristics: (1) it takes a systems approach (2) it is design driven and (3) it focuses on two closely related outcomes: performance and well-being. In order to contribute to future system design, HFE must demonstrate its value more successfully to the main stakeholders of system design. HFE already has a strong value proposition (mainly well-being) and interactivity with the stakeholder group of ‘system actors’ (employees and product/service users). However, the value proposition (mainly performance) and relationships with the stakeholder groups of ‘system experts’ (experts fromtechnical and social sciences involved in system design), and ‘system decision makers’ (managers and other decision makers involved in system design, purchase, implementation and use), who have a strong power to influence system design, need to be developed. Therefore, the first main strategic direction is to strengthen the demand for high-quality HFE by increasing awareness among powerful stakeholders of the value of high-quality HFE by communicating with stakeholders, by building partnerships and by educating stakeholders. The second main strategic direction is to strengthen the application of high-quality HFE by promoting the education of HFE specialists, by ensuring high-quality standards of HFE applications and HFE specialists, and by promoting HFE research excellence at universities and other organisations. This strategy requires cooperation between the HFE community at large, consisting of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), local (national and regional) HFE societies, and HFE specialists. We propose a joint world-wide HFE development plan, in which the IEA takes a leadership role. Practitioner Summary: Human factors/ergonomics (HFE) has much to offer by addressing major business and societal challenges regarding work and product/service systems. HFE potential, however, is underexploited. This paper presents a strategy for the HFE community to strengthen demand and application of high-quality HFE, emphasising its key elements: systems approach, design driven, and performance and well-being goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Work systems provide visual information and organization for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and assist in increasing on-task behavior and productivity while simultaneously decreasing adult prompting. Work systems are a core component of the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-Handicapped Children comprehensive treatment model for individuals with ASD. Work systems are used in school settings to facilitate student understanding of adult expectations, promote task completion, help with organizational skills, sequencing abilities, and increase flexibility. Work systems also support skill generalization and have been implemented successfully across school and work settings. The authors provide a review of the research supporting the use of work systems, a rationale for implementation and a description of implementation steps, and examples of application with students across age ranges and ability levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on improving the systems development processes has primarily focused on mechanisms such as tools, software development methodologies, knowledge sharing and process capabilities. This research has yielded considerable insights into improving the systems development process, but the large majority of information systems development projects still continue to be over budget, late, and ineffective in meeting user needs. Together with the advent of software development moving offshore, or consisting of offshore team members, a more holistic approach is appropriate. Approached from a socio-technical perspective the software development process is viewed as a process embedded in a social and a technical subsystem. Drawing upon socio-technical work design principles, this paper suggests how capabilities of the development process can be improved. Data collected from a survey of software development practices in organizations indicates that organizations at different levels of process capabilities differ in work system characteristics as well as process performance. For example, the use of multi-skilled teams was found to be significantly related to the systems development process maturity level as well as significantly related to all the performance measures studied. This paper provides empirical support for the socio-technical approach and provides a theoretical foundation for designing software process initiatives in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a study in which four real-life problem situations are used to explore the challenges of developing and implementing decision support tools within an urban water utility. In the study, an Action Research approach is used, with theoretical considerations leading to specific actions being implemented, which in turn yield results that are used to reflect upon the original theoretical assumptions. Results of the study emphasize the need for proper problem-structuring prior to the formulation of actions; the challenges of moving from planning to action; the importance of user involvement in the development of tools; and how a good match of people, problem-structuring, proactiveness and participatory tools development is required for effective decision support provision. The study also highlights the challenges of embedding decision support within existing work systems in organizations. The Action Research approach is shown to be useful in bridging the gap between theory and practice, aiding the development of decision support tools of immediate and practical benefit to organizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]