Sociotechnical systems as a framework for regulatory system design and evaluation: Using Work Domain Analysis to examine a new regulatory system

Anthony W Carden; Natassia Goode; Gemma J M Read; Paul M Salmon

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2017.02.019

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Sociotechnical systems as a framework for regulatory system design and evaluation: Using Work Domain Analysis to examine a new regulatory system

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Sociotechnical systems as a framework for regulatory system design and evaluation: Using Work Domain Analysis to examine a new regulatory system

Anthony W Carden, Natassia Goode, Gemma J M Read and Paul M Salmon

Applied Ergonomics, Vol.80, pp.272-280

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.02.019

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Abstract

adventure activities

adventure education

cognitive work analysis

outdoor activities

outdoor education

outdoor recreation

regulation

regulatory systems

sociotechnical systems

work domain analysis

Like most work systems, the domain of adventure activities has seen a series of serious incidents and subsequent calls to improve regulation. Safety regulation systems aim to promote safety and reduce accidents. However, there is scant evidence they have led to improved safety outcomes. In fact there is some evidence that the poor integration of regulatory system components has led to adverse safety outcomes in some contexts. Despite this, there is an absence of methods for evaluating regulatory and compliance systems. This article argues that sociotechnical systems theory and methods provide a suitable framework for evaluating regulatory systems. This is demonstrated through an analysis of a recently introduced set of adventure activity regulations. Work Domain Analysis (WDA) was used to describe the regulatory system in terms of its functional purposes, values and priority measures, purpose-related functions, object-related processes and cognitive objects. This allowed judgement to be made on the nature of the new regulatory system and on the constraints that may impact its efficacy following implementation. Importantly, the analysis suggests that the new system's functional purpose of ensuring safe activities is not fully supported in terms of the functions and objects available to fulfil them. Potential improvements to the design of the system are discussed along with the implications for regulatory system design and evaluation across the safety critical domains generally.

Details

Title: Sociotechnical systems as a framework for regulatory system design and evaluation: Using Work Domain Analysis to examine a new regulatory system
Authors: Anthony W Carden (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Natassia Goode (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Gemma J M Read (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Paul M Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Publication details: Applied Ergonomics, Vol.80, pp.272-280
Publisher: Pergamon
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.02.019
ISSN: 0003-6870
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451034502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, Applied