The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for extending the functional analysis of a system to the human decision-making agents in order to improve overall system effectiveness. The subsystems needed to accomplish the goals of the system can often be found through a functional analysis. However, the different subsystems need to be completely integrated in order for the system to be effective. This integration is often problematic within the Human-Computer Interface (HCI), where the operator is reliant on the information provided in order to have an understanding of what is occurring within the work domain. As a functional analysis helps to define the goals to be accomplished and the subsystems that accomplish them, it follows that expanding the depth of the functional analysis will help integrate the human operator and technology through the HCI to make a more effective Joint Cognitive System (JCS). The functional analysis leads to the creation of more insightful design requirements for the HCI that directly link the work that the user must accomplish and the information needed to complete this work - making it truly user-centered design. An example of how the functional analysis can be applied to a system is provided, comparing an HCI developed with typical design requirements to an HCI developed from an expanded functional analysis.
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