Tania Xiao

Goal orientations and performance: Differential relationships across levels of analysis and as a function of task demands

Goal orientation and self-regulation theories were integrated to develop a multilevel framework aimed at addressing controversies regarding the magnitude and direction of goal orientation effects on performance. In Study 1, goal orientations were measured repeatedly whilst individuals performed an air traffic control task. In Study 2, goal orientations and exam performance were measured across 3 time points while undergraduates completed a course. Mastery-approach orientation was positively related to performance at the intraindividual level, but not at the interindividual level, and its effect was not moderated by task demands. Performance-approach positively predicted performance at the interindividual level, and at the intraindividual level, the direction of its effect switched as a function of task demands. Performance-avoid negatively predicted performance at the interindividual level but did not emerge as an intraindividual predictor. Mastery-avoid did not relate to performance at either level of analysis. This consistent pattern across 2 studies suggests that levels of analysis and task demands can determine the magnitude and direction of goal orientation effects on performance and highlights avenues for theory development.

Human Factors and Ergonomics

Human factors and ergonomics applies scientific information about human cognition and behavior to support the design of products and systems that enhance human well-being and performance. Human factors and ergonomics professionals investigate human–system interaction at the individual, group, and organizational levels. The aim is to design products that augment human physical, cognitive, and motivational capabilities and improve the social, technical, and organizational aspects of a system. Human factors and ergonomics has been used to improve safety and productivity particularly in complex sociotechnical systems.

Evaluating the generalizability of the Organizational Constraints Analysis framework: a hospital bed management case study

Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) provides useful tools for analyzing and modeling work constraints that can inform the development of systems design requirements. However, it does not provide effective tools for analyzing and modeling organizational constraints that can inform the development of organizational design requirements. By integrating organizational theories with the CWA approach, we developed the Organizational Constraints Analysis framework, a formative approach to the analysis, modeling, and design of the organization of work. In this paper, we test the generalizability of the framework by using its two analytical templates—the Organizational Constraints model and Work Possibilities diagram—to analyze the hospital bed management work domain. The research findings suggest that the concepts, investigative probes, and notations from the analytical templates can be applied to complex work domains beyond those in which it was initially developed. We conclude with suggestions for how the Organizational Constraints Analysis framework can complement CWA methods by helping researchers and practitioners develop a broader organizational perspective on the constraints that drive how work can be done in organizations.

The ETTO principle and organisational strategies: a field study of ICU bed and staff management

The purpose of this study was to examine how Hollnagels efficiency-thoroughness trade-off or ETTO principle (Hollnagel, The ETTO principle: efficiency-thoroughness trade-off. Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Farnham, 2009) can inform our understanding of the organisational strategies used to manage bed and staff resources in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We conducted a field study involving observations, interviews and analysis of artefacts used by the rostering nurse and nurse-in-charge of an ICU in a large metropolitan hospital. We identified five organisational strategies used by the nurses to maintain balance between efficiency and thoroughness demands: (a) a flexible unit-based staffing policy, (b) a theatre coordination rule, (c) a set of bed and staff (re)distribution options, (d) patient bed location preferences, and (e) staffing allocation order preferences. Our findings show that the ETTO principle is a useful descriptive model for understanding the factors that make organisational strategies successful. We also suggest how ideas from the organisational literature can enrich future research on the ETTO principle.

The role of human factors and ergonomics in mining emergency management: three case studies

Mining is a complex and hazardous work domain. This paper presents three related research studies in mining emergency management, highlighting the contribution that human factors and ergonomics are making to this field. The first study investigates the challenges associated with the collection and management of information during underground coal mining emergencies from a human-centred perspective. The second and third case studies build on the first study: the second one focuses on decision making deficiencies in incident management teams and the final one examines organisational issues related to mining control rooms during emergencies. In each of these three research studies, the broad problem is first defined, then the work undertaken and results produced are described, and finally the implications and future work are presented. Following this, the human factors contributions to help create safe and efficient mining emergency management systems are discussed.

Envisioning healthcare work: models for prospective evaluation of new systems

When healthcare organizations plan the introduction of advanced health information systems, they need to envision future use. In this paper we describe four different ways of modeling the flow of information in a healthcare context: normative, indicating how information should flow; descriptive, indicating how information does flow now; formative, indicating how information could flow; and projective, indicating how information will flow with a specific new health information system. All approaches must work together for analysts to envision future use effectively. We illustrate the above distinctions with a case study based in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology (DDR) in a major tertiary hospital. DDR personnel were considering the introduction of software to help them schedule patient porterage (transport) services to, from, and within the department. Our prospective evaluation method let personnel see advantages and disadvantages of different ways of deploying the porterage software and led to the specification and design of the ValuesViewer™ application.

Two human-centered approaches to health informatics: Cognitive systems engineering and usability

There is growing recognition among many healthcare researchers that a human-centered approach to the design and evaluation of health information systems is vital for the success of such systems in healthcare. In this paper, we survey the work of two human-centered research communities that have been active in the area of health information systems research but that have not been adequately discussed in past comparative reviews. They are cognitive systems engineering and usability. We briefly consider the origins and contributions of the two research communities and then discuss the similarities and differences between them on several topics relevant to health information systems. Our objective is to clarify the distinction between the two communities and to help future researchers make more informed decisions about the approaches and methods that will meet their needs.

Analysing mine emergency management needs: A cognitive work analysis approach

In this paper, we argue that cognitive work analysis (CWA), a framework for analysing, modelling and designing complex work systems, is an effective approach to determine the emergency management needs of mine operators. To demonstrate, we applied work domain analysis (WDA), the first phase of the CWA framework, to the analysis of the mine emergency management needs of control room operators in an Australian underground coal mine context. Overall, we found that CWA supported a holistic approach to the analysis of emergency management needs by capturing requirements that involved (a) emergency and routine operations, and (b) social and technical aspects of the work. We conclude with implications for the development of procedures, technology and training in underground coal mine emergency management systems.

Developing and evaluating the Organizational Constraints Analysis (OCA) approach to analysing work coordination via resource allocation case studies

In this paper, we introduce an Organizational Constraints Analysis (OCA) approach to work analysis that focuses on how organizational rules constrain coordination work possibilities. OCA is guided by ideas from Cognitive Work Analysis and by organizational theory. First, using nurse rostering and rail controller rostering case studies, we discuss the development of two analytical tools: the Organizational Constraints model and Work Possibilities template. Second, we conduct an initial test of the generalizability of the analytical tools in a hospital bed management domain. Overall, the findings suggest that the OCA approach has the potential to help researchers and analysts develop a richer understanding of the organizational processes that constrain the coordination of work.

Observing the Challenges of Implementing New Health ICT

Research into the development and adoption of new health technologies finds that information and communication technology (ICT) developers often fail to understand the clinical workplace, resulting in the implementation of costly systems that stakeholders reject. Here we report observations of the implementation of a well-designed new patient information system at a regional hospital. We used a combination of ethnographical and survey methods to assess stakeholders‘ uptake of and reactions to the new system. We found that even with a well-designed system, uptake can encounter challenges. We outline a number of important factors that may influence the success, or failure, of new ICT.