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

ix

Tables

xv

Preface

xvii

Acknowledgements

xix

Introduction

1

(2)

Organisation of the book

3

(4)

Task analysis, concepts and terminology

7

(18)

Introduction

8

(1)

Systems thinking

8

(3)

Systems thinking in describing human skill

11

(2)

Human performance in systems

13

(3)

Justification of HTA in systems terms

16

(5)

Some terminology so far

21

(2)

Concluding comments

23

(2)

HTA-a task analysis framework

25

(16)

Introduction

26

(1)

The main strategies of HTA

26

(6)

HTA-a Framework for Analysing Tasks

32

(7)

Using the framework

39

(1)

Concluding comments

39

(2)

Plans and complexity

41

(26)

Introduction

42

(1)

Different sorts of plan

42

(14)

Composite plans

56

(1)

Unravelling complex plans

56

(8)

Concluding comment

64

(3)

Flexibility, constraint, cognition and context

67

(20)

Introduction

68

(4)

Inferring cognitive operations

72

(2)

Focus and Bias

74

(1)

Modelling and evaluating strategies

74

(3)

Situating cognition

77

(8)

Identifying strategies off line

85

(1)

Concluding remarks

85

(2)

Representing and recording HTA

87

(14)

Introduction

88

(1)

Reasons for representing and recording

88

(1)

Hierarchical diagrams

89

(3)

Numbering the analysis

92

(1)

Tabular Formats

93

(4)

Representation of plans in diagrams and tables

97

(1)

Computer aids in recording task analysis

98

(2)

Concluding remarks

100

(1)

Analysis of tasks-some illustrations

101

(34)

Introduction

102

(2)

Changing a cartridge

104

(1)

Process control

104

(2)

Task analysis of a batch operation

106

(3)

Task analysis of a continuous process control task

109

(2)

Air-traffic control

111

(2)

Minimal Access Surgery (MAS)

113

(3)

A customer service task

116

(1)

Using a wordprocessor

117

(3)

Mechanical maintenance

120

(4)

Nursing

124

(1)

Management

124

(7)

Staff supervision-nurse in charge of a ward

131

(2)

Concluding remarks

133

(2)

Making human factors design decisions within HTA

135

(22)

Introduction

136

(1)

Considering the design options

137

(6)

Making design choices

143

(4)

Context and constraint and design decisions

147

(4)

Collating and resolving design decisions

151

(1)

Developing detailed design within the system life-cycle

152

(3)

Concluding remarks

155

(2)

Teams and jobs

157

(18)

Introduction

158

(1)

Collaborating on a common goal

159

(5)

Assessing workload

164

(4)

The tasks of within a working team

168

(5)

Concluding remarks

173

(2)

Information and skill

175

(22)

Introduction

176

(1)

The reliance on information in tasks-some examples

177

(2)

Characteristic problems with information and control

179

(6)

Identifying information requirements in operations

185

(2)

Types of operation

187

(6)

Identifying information requirements in plans

193

(1)

Representing and situating information and control

193

(2)

Concluding remarks

195

(2)

HTA and training

197

(20)

Introduction

198

(1)

Learning practical skills

198

(2)

An informal training intervention

200

(5)

Elements of a formal training programme

205

(4)

Part-task training

209

(4)

Simulation for training

213

(3)

Concluding comment

216

(1)

Designing support documentation

217

(14)

Introduction

218

(1)

Common types of support documentation

219

(6)

Determining where job-aids should be employed

225

(1)

Relating job-aids to training

226

(2)

Representation of job-aids and the link to HTA

228

(2)

Concluding remarks

230

(1)

Human resource management issues

231

(8)

Introduction

232

(1)

Establishing a proper task description

232

(2)

Making human resource management decisions

234

(4)

Concluding comment

238

(1)

Conclusions

239

(6)

The method

239

(2)

The application of HTA to different domains

241

(1)

The application of HTA to supporting different design solutions

242

(1)

Cognition and flexibility

243

(1)

Tasks and contexts

243

(1)

HTA and other task analysis methods

244

(1)

Notes

245

(15)

Task analysis, concepts and terminology

245

(2)

HTA-a task analysis framework

247

(7)

Plans and complexity

254

(1)

Flexibility, constraint, cognition and context

254

(1)

Representing and recording HTA

255

(1)

Analysis of tasks-some illustrations

256

(1)

Making human factors design decisions within HTA

257

(1)

Teams and jobs

257

(1)

Information and skill

258

(1)

HTA and training

258

(1)

Designing support documentation

259

(1)

Some human resource management issues

259

(1)

References

260

(7)

Index

267

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