Macroergonomics: Theory, Methods, and Applications / Edition 1

by Hal W. Hendrick, Brian Kleiner

Overview

This book's primary objective is to provide a comprehensive coverage of ergonomics in overall work system analysis and design. It provides a summary of the historical development of macroergonomics. It explains how an understanding of macroergonomics can lead to improvements in such things as reducing work-related lost time accidents; and describes the methods and tools used in work system analysis and design. Throughout, the integrating theme is that the full potential of an organization—in terms of productivity, safety, health, and Quality of Work Life (QWL)—can't be met unless the overall work system is designed to conform with the characteristics of its technology, personnel subsystem, and the external environment upon which it depends for its survival and success. Using a sociotechnical systems approach, this text discusses the application of macroergonomics to training system development, hazard management, technology transfer, large scale organizational change projects, office and factory automation, community planning and development, and job design. For each of these applications, actual case examples will be included. The book will appeal to teachers of introductory human factors/ergonomics courses as a supplemental text or as the primary text for a course fully devoted to macroergonomics. In addition, it should also appeal to practicing ergonomists internationally as a must add to their personal professional libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805831917
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/01/2002
Series:	Human Factors and Ergonomics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	428
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hendrick, Hal W.; Kleiner, Brian

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface. G. Salvendy, Series Foreword. Part I: Introduction to Macroergonomics. H.W. Hendrick, An Overview of Macroergonomics. O. Brown, Jr., Macroergonomics Methods: Participation. H.W. Hendrick, Macroergonomics Methods: Assessing Work System Structure. M.M. Robertson, B.M. Kleiner, M.J. O'Neill, Macroergonomic Methods: Assessing Work System Processes. H.W. Hendrick, Other Methods for Assessing Work Systems. M. Nagamachi, Relationships Among Job Design, Macroergonomics, and Productivity. B.M. Kleiner, Laboratory and Field Research in Macroergonomics. Part II: Macroergonomic Applications. A.S. Imada, A Macroergonomic Approach to Reducing Work-Related Injuries. G. Bradley, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Changes in Work Life: Macroergonomic Considerations. T.J. Smith, Macroergonomics of Hazard Management. W. Karwowski, J. Kantola, D. Rodrick, G. Salvendy, Macroergonomic Aspects of Manufacturing. M.M. Robertson, Macroergonomics in Training Systems Development. B.M. Kleiner, Macroergonomics in Large-Scale Organizational Change. J.H. Smith, W.J. Cohen, F.T. Conway, P. Carayon, A.D. Bayeh, M.J. Smith, Community Ergonomics. H. Shahnavaz, Macroergonomic Considerations in Technology Transfer. N. Meshkati, Macroergonomics and Aviation Safety: The Importance of Cultural Factors in Technology Transfer. N. Meshkati, Macroergonomic Root Causes of Large-Scale Accidents: Three Mile Island, Bhopal, Chernobyl. K.J. Zink, A Vision of the Future of Macroergonomics.

Editorial Reviews

"Overall the book provides an excellent resource not only for those who are concerned with macro-ergonomics issues but also for those with a general interest in ergonomics....Additionally, anyone with a role in organisational interventions at the individual, system or organisational level, will find the book of value and should enable work systems to be optimised, yielding organisations that have improved worker well being and productivity, and are better placed to meet future challenges, in particular change."
—Ergonomics

"Hendrick and Kleiner's much-needed resource comes in handy for human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) professionals by taking understanding of macroergonomics to a higher level....This book is organized and presented well, making it a pleasurable must-read for those seeking to understand macroergonomics and to take advantage of its potential. It is also an excellent source for a great amount of research done in this field, as it presents the state-of-the-art of macroergonomics research and applications. The book will be particularly helpful for teaching macroergonomics to undergraduate and graduate students."
—Ergonomics in Design

From the Publisher

A subdiscipline of ergonomics, macroergonomics is concerned with the design of work systems. Eighteen chapters introducing the discipline and examining some recent applications are presented by Hendrick (Hendrick and Associates, an ergonomics consultancy firm) and Kleiner (industrial and systems engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute). Early chapters look at assessment of work structures, relationships between job design and productivity, and laboratory and field research in macroergonomics. Chapters devoted to applications focus on reducing work-related injuries, the use of information and communications technologies, hazard management, training systems development, considerations in technology transfer, and case studies of the macroergonomic root causes of large scale industrial accidents such as Bhopal and Chernobyl. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)