Methodologies for Program Identification and Solution

Abstract

Ergonomics deals with systems of people and machines. A system is more than just a collection of objects, it is a collection with a purpose. Thus to describe, analyze or design a system of people and machines it is necessary to go beyond listing the components and their attributes. Some purpose must be stated so that the logical steps necessary to achieve this purpose can be listed. It is from this list of logical, purposive steps that the human/machine system analysis known as ergonomics can proceed. This paper describes a methodology for bringing together the wealth of knowledge on how humans work (ergonomics) and the wealth of knowledge on a particular system (operating experience), using the concept of the purposive human/machine system.