CP4

Marti, P., Palmonari, M.
Activity analysis in complex work settings

This paper discusses issues related to the activity analysis in complex work settings, presenting real air traffic control scenarios collected in the Ciampino Regional Coordination Centre (Rome). The data were collected using ethnographic field studies and analyzed according to the Distributed Cognition Approach (Hutchins, 1995). This theoretical approach highlights the distinction between the normative task description and the people actual activity and provides a framework for activity analysis. The scenarios analyzed according to the assumptions of Distributed Coignition highlight properties of the Air Traffic Control system which cannot be revealed by focusing the analysis on the normative task description or by considering individual performances isolated from the socio-technical context in which the whole process takes place.

Proceedings of Task Analysis 1998 - State of the Art in Europe, Schaerding, AU, June 1-3, 1998.


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