A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS AND AUTOMATIC HANDLING OF TASK INFORMATION FOR SYSTEMS IN THE CONCEPTUAL PHASE

摘要

Adequate consideration of the human skills required by future systems has long been neglected in the conceptual phase of man-machine system development. This neglect in part has been due to lack of a uniform and workable method for gathering, processing, and using early human factors information for improving the design and development of systems. The methodological approach presented in this report was predicated on this need. This report presents a technique for analyzing and processing task and task requirements data generated during the conceptual phase of system development. The technique includes: (a) a category system for organizing, classifying, and coding task information; (b) a task analysis format for recording and coding task descriptions and task requirements; and (c) computer update and retrieval programs. Task requirement data appearing in documents resulting from the Air Force Study Requirement program are analyzed and used for testing the technique on an actual personnel training problem. The test program indicates that the technique can be used to assist human factors specialists to isolate and process task and task requirements associated with advanced systems for making personnel, training, and training equipment recommendations.