Task analysis

Abstract

The need to improve the systems we work in has been the driving force behind human factors. Traditionally, studies in this area have been carried out by observing humans at work and by analyzing their work environments. The term “task analysis” refers to the formal approach of analyzing human performance in systems, and is comprised of the systematic recording and analysis of human work to identify human/system mismatches with an eye to ultimately designing superior systems. The goal, therefore, of any task analysis is to examine the existing human/machine systems in order to provide a basis for designing more efficient, effective systems that are based on known human capabilities.