Anneli Pulkkis

The role of information support systems in the joint optimization of work systems

Sociotechnical approach preaches the affinity of the social and the technical organization but divides organizations into social and technical subsystems. Thus, it has failed to anticipate the possibilities of new technologies within the social system. The social subsystem of a modern sociotechnical system does not consist of mere human beings but combines people and the technological artifacts they use. In this article, we discuss one such technology, information support, and how it can be used to expand functional redundancy of a sociotechnical system, even the cognitive redundancy of individual people. However, such technologies have often been applied specifically to limit functional redundancy of the sociotechnical system, that is, to reduce communication, learning, and utilization of human talent. The discussion is based on findings from case studies on multimedia-based interactive task support systems used in lightweight assembly industry in Finland and in Denmark. The case studies provide both justification to the information support approach and questions to be addressed in the future. For example, why did the introduction of so many interactive task support systems fail?

Information tools for the shop-floor

New production and work practices set new proficiency requirements for employees in operative organisations. Most of these requirements involve information and communication. We can train and educate people to meet with these challenges and design their physical and information environments to support and facilitate them in their work. New information tools play a central role in this development. But what kind of tools? How to apply these tools to enhance employees’ learning by reflection. In this article we will discuss the emergency of shop-floor information environment from the sociotechnical point of view. In addition, the possibilities and limitations of electronic performance support as a solution are evaluated. Shop-floor information artifacts are tools used to produce, organise, store and distribute work related information in a shop-floor environment. They may be very simple like handwritten notes or user interfaces to extremely complex data management systems.

Different modalities in assembly support system user interface

In lightweight assembly work the need for information support systems has grown greatly. In agile production the computer based information support systems are a promising, accurate and fast way to produce the needed information in the production line. Contemporary information support systems can provide assembly workers with multi-modal information. The effect of different media in the user interface has not been studied extensively in assembly work. We present a survey consisting of two approaches: a controlled laboratory study about assembly errors and assembly time, and a qualitative field study about subjective satisfaction of a computer based information support system for shop floor employees.