A Framework of Human Systems Engineering

Applications and Case Studies

Holly A. H. Handley, Andreas Tolk, Holly A. H. Handley, Andreas Tolk

• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9781119698753
• eBook ISBN:
  9781119698760
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Tecnología e ingeniería
• Subtopic: Ingeniería eléctrica y telecomunicaciones

Explores the breadth and versatility of Human Systems Engineering (HSE) practices and illustrates its value in system development

A Framework of Human Systems Engineering: Applications and Case Studies offers a guide to identifying and improving methods to integrate human concerns into the conceptualization and design of systems. With contributions from a panel of noted experts on the topic, the book presents a series of Human Systems Engineering (HSE) applications on a wide range of topics: interface design, training requirements, personnel capabilities and limitations, and human task allocation.

Each of the book's chapters present a case study of the application of HSE from different dimensions of socio-technical systems. The examples are organized using a socio-technical system framework to reference the applications across multiple system types and domains. These case studies are based in real-world examples and highlight the value of applying HSE to the broader engineering community. This important book:

• Includes a proven framework with case studies to different dimensions of practice, including domain, system type, and system maturity
• Contains the needed tools and methods in order to integrate human concerns within systems
• Encourages the use of Human Systems Engineering throughout the design process
• Provides examples that cross traditional system engineering sectors and identifies a diverse set of human engineering practices

Written for systems engineers, human factors engineers, and HSI practitioners, A Framework of Human Systems Engineering: Applications and Case Studies provides the information needed for the better integration of human and systems and early resolution of issues based on human constraints and limitations.

Section 1
Sociotechnical System Types

1
Introduction to the Human Systems Engineering Framework

Holly A. H. Handley

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

Keywords: human systems engineering; human system integration; ergonomics; socio‐technical framework;

1.1 Introduction

Many human‐centered disciplines exist that focus on the integration of humans and systems. These disciplines, such as human factors (HF), human systems integration (HSI), and human factors engineering (HFE), are often used interchangeable but have distinct meanings. This introductory chapter identifies these varied disciplines and then defines the domain of human systems engineering (HSE). HSE implies that human has been “engineered” into the design, in contrast to “integrating” the user into the system at later stages of design.

The use of HSE for increasing complex and varied sociotechnical systems requires a more context‐specific suite of tools and processes to address the combination of human and system components. More often a wider range of system stakeholders, including design and development engineers, are becoming involved in, and are vested in, the success of both HSE‐ and HSI‐related efforts. To assist these efforts, a framework was developed based on the dimensions of sociotechnical system and domain types, with relationships to specific HSI and SE concerns. The development of this framework and its dimensions is also described in the chapter.

Finally, the framework is used to organize a wide range of case studies across a variety of system types and domains to provide examples of current work in the field. These case studies focus on both the systems engineering (SE) applications and the HSE successes. Linking the cases to the framework identifies the contextual variables, based on both sociotechnical system and domain characteristics, and links them to specific human system concerns. Our goal with this volume is to emphasize the role of systems engineers in the development of successful sociotechnical systems.

1.2 Human‐Centered Disciplines

HF is a broad scientific and applied discipline. As a body of knowledge, HF is a collection of data and principles about human characteristics, capabilities, and limitations. This knowledge base is derived from empirical evidence from many fields and is used to help minimize the risk of systems by incorporating the diversity of human characteristics (England 2017). Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well‐being and overall system performance (IEA 2018). The term “human factors” is generally considered synonymous with the term “ergonomics.” HF engineers or ergonomics practitioners apply the body of knowledge of HF to the design of systems to make them compatible with the abilities and limitations of the human user.

HF has always employed a systems approach; however, in large complex systems, it was recognized that the role of the human must be considered from multiple perspectives (Smillie 2019). HSI is the interdisciplinary technical process for integrating multiple human considerations into SE practice (DOA 2015). Seven HSI areas of concerns have been identified – manpower, personnel, training, HFE, health and safety, habitability, and survivability – all of which need to be addressed in an interconnected approach. The emphasis of the HSI effort is on the trade‐offs within and across these domains in order to evaluate all options in terms of overall system performance, risk, and personnel‐related ownership cost (SAE6906 2019). HSI provides a comprehensive snapshot of how human systems interaction has been addressed throughout the system development process by evaluating each of these domains as the system design progresses through different stages. It identifies what issues remain to be resolved, including their level of risk, and suggests potential mitigations.

Human factors integration (HFI) is a systematic process for identifying, tracking, and resolving human‐related issues ensuring a balanced development of both technological and human aspects of a system (Defence Standard 00‐251 2015). HFI is the term used in the United Kingdom equivalent to HSI. Similar to HSI, HFI draws on the breadth of the HF disciplines and emphasizes the need to facilitate HFI management activities of concern across seven similar domains: manpower, personnel, training, HFE, system safety, health hazard assessment, and social and organizational (England 2017). The methods and processes available for HFI can be broken down into both technical activities and management activities; HFI has a well‐defined process and can draw on many methods, tools, standards, and data in order to prevent operational and development risks (Bruseberg 2009).

1.3 Human Systems Engineering

The HSI discipline was established with the primary objective to enhance the success of the Department of Defense (DoD) systems by placing humans on more equal footing with design elements such as hardware and software (SAE6906 2019). SE is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and engineering management that focuses on how to design and manage complex systems over the system life cycle. While HSI is considered an enabler to SE practice, systems engineers need to be actively engaged to continuously consider the human as part of the total system throughout the design and development stages. HSE is the application of human principles, models, and techniques to system design with the goal of optimizing system performance by taking human capabilities and limitations into consideration (DOD 1988). HSE approaches the human system design from the perspective of the systems engineer and views the human component as a system resource. Human‐focused analyses that occur as part of the HSE evaluations determine the required interactions between users and technology and are essential to insure efficient processes and data exchange between the technology elements and the human users (Handley 2019a). In the United Kingdom, human‐centric systems engineering (HCSE) seeks better ways to address HF within mainstream SE while building on and optimizing the coherence of existing best practice. Similar to HSE, HCSE approaches HF from an SE viewpoint and aims to develop core SE practices that help engineering organizations adopt the best HF processes for their needs (England 2017).

HSE applies what is known about the human to the design of systems. It focuses on the tasks that need to be performed, the allocation of specific tasks to human roles, the interactions required among the human operators, and the constraints imposed by human capabilities and limitations. A key focus of HSE is on the determination of the human role strategy; this allocation determines the implications for manning, training, and ultimately cost (ONR 1998). The human elements of the system possess knowledge, skills, and abilities that must be accounted for in system design, along with ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Editor Biographies
• Contributors List
• Foreword
• Preface
• Section 1: Sociotechnical System Types
• Section 2: Domain Deep Dives
• Section 3: Focus on Training and Skill Sets
• Section 4: Considering Human Characteristics
• Section 5: From the Field
• Index
• End User License Agreement