Hierarchical task analysis

Title:

Personal Author:

Shepherd, Andrew, 1946-

Publication Information:

London : Taylor & Francis, 2001

ISBN:

9780748408375

Subject Term:

Human factors in engineering design

Task analysis

Cognitive science

Available:*

Library	Item Barcode	Call Number	Material Type	Item Category 1	Status
Searching... PSZ JB	30000010063973	TA166 S53 2001	Open Access Book	Book	Searching... Unknown

Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) is carried out by professionals who have to undertake a wide range of human factors and human resource design decisions. Using a wide range of industries and contexts to demonstrate the aplicability of HTA in various settings, the author has used straightforward and accessible case studies and examples for the reader.
HTA is a method of defining goals and tasks for a particular job (using factors such as time, plant status, conditions, instructions and sequence) and then dividing each goal into 'sub goals', each with its own plan, in order to produce the most effective method of achieving the final aim.
The discussion of applications will aim to reenforce general concepts of HTA as well as provide guidance on how HTA may be used. There have been articles on HTA and chapters in other books, but there has never been a book on the subject to do it justice. This will be the first.

Figures	p. ix
Tables	p. xv
Preface	p. xvii
Acknowledgements	p. xix
Introduction	p. 1
Organisation of the book	p. 3
Chapter 1 Task analysis, concepts and terminology	p. 7
Introduction	p. 8
Systems thinking	p. 8
Systems thinking in describing human skill	p. 11
Human performance in systems	p. 13
Justification of HTA in systems terms	p. 16
Some terminology so far	p. 21
Concluding comments	p. 23
Chapter 2 HTA - a task analysis framework	p. 25
Introduction	p. 26
The main strategies of HTA	p. 26
HTA - a Framework for Analysing Tasks	p. 32
Using the framework	p. 39
Concluding comments	p. 39
Chapter 3 Plans and complexity	p. 41
Introduction	p. 42
Different sorts of plan	p. 42
Composite plans	p. 56
Unravelling complex plans	p. 56
Concluding comment	p. 64
Chapter 4 Flexibility, constraint, cognition and context	p. 67
Introduction	p. 68
Inferring cognitive operations	p. 72
Focus and Bias	p. 74
Modelling and evaluating strategies	p. 74
Situating cognition	p. 77
Identifying strategies off line	p. 85
Concluding remarks	p. 85
Chapter 5 Representing and recording HTA	p. 87
Introduction	p. 88
Reasons for representing and recording	p. 88
Hierarchical diagrams	p. 89
Numbering the analysis	p. 92
Tabular Formats	p. 93
Representation of plans in diagrams and tables	p. 97
Computer aids in recording task analysis	p. 98
Concluding remarks	p. 100
Chapter 6 Analysis of tasks - some illustrations	p. 101
Introduction	p. 102
Changing a cartridge	p. 104
Process control	p. 104
Task analysis of a batch operation	p. 106
Task analysis of a continuous process control task	p. 109
Air-traffic control	p. 111
Minimal Access Surgery (MAS)	p. 113
A customer service task	p. 116
Using a wordprocessor	p. 117
Mechanical maintenance	p. 120
Nursing	p. 124
Management	p. 124
Staff supervision - nurse in charge of a ward	p. 131
Concluding remarks	p. 133
Chapter 7 Making human factors design decisions within HTA	p. 135
Introduction	p. 136
Considering the design options	p. 137
Making design choices	p. 143
Context and constraint and design decisions	p. 147
Collating and resolving design decisions	p. 151
Developing detailed design within the system life-cycle	p. 152
Concluding remarks	p. 155
Chapter 8 Teams and jobs	p. 157
Introduction	p. 158
Collaborating on a common goal	p. 159
Assessing workload	p. 164
The tasks of within a working team	p. 168
Concluding remarks	p. 173
Chapter 9 Information and skill	p. 175
Introduction	p. 176
The reliance on information in tasks - some examples	p. 177
Characteristic problems with information and control	p. 179
Identifying information requirements in operations	p. 185
Types of operation	p. 187
Identifying information requirements in plans	p. 193
Representing and situating information and control	p. 193
Concluding remarks	p. 195
Chapter 10 HTA and training	p. 197
Introduction	p. 198
Learning practical skills	p. 198
An informal training intervention	p. 200
Elements of a formal training programme	p. 205
Part-task training	p. 209
Simulation for training	p. 213
Concluding comment	p. 216
Chapter 11 Designing support documentation	p. 217
Introduction	p. 218
Common types of support documentation	p. 219
Determining where job-aids should be employed	p. 225
Relating job-aids to training	p. 226
Representation of job-aids and the link to HTA	p. 228
Concluding remarks	p. 230
Chapter 12 Human resource management issues	p. 231
Introduction	p. 232
Establishing a proper task description	p. 232
Making human resource management decisions	p. 234
Concluding comment	p. 238
Chapter 13 Conclusions	p. 239
The method	p. 239
The application of HTA to different domains	p. 241
The application of HTA to supporting different design solutions	p. 242
Cognition and flexibility	p. 243
Tasks and contexts	p. 243
HTA and other task analysis methods	p. 244
Chapter 14 Notes	p. 245
Chapter 1 Task analysis, concepts and terminology	p. 245
Chapter 2 HTA - a task analysis framework	p. 247
Chapter 3 Plans and complexity	p. 254
Chapter 4 Flexibility, constraint, cognition and context	p. 254
Chapter 5 Representing and recording HTA	p. 255
Chapter 6 Analysis of tasks - some illustrations	p. 256
Chapter 7 Making human factors design decisions within HTA	p. 257
Chapter 8 Teams and jobs	p. 257
Chapter 9 Information and skill	p. 258
Chapter 10 HTA and training	p. 258
Chapter 11 Designing support documentation	p. 259
Chapter 12 Some human resource management issues	p. 259
References	p. 260
Index	p. 267

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