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Macrocognition: The science and engineering of sociotechnical work systems

Ward, Paul; Hoffman, Robert R.; Conway, Gareth E.; Schraagen, Jan Maarten; Peebles, David; Hutton, Robert J. B.; Petushek, Erich J.

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Authors

Paul Ward

Robert R. Hoffman

Gareth E. Conway

Jan Maarten Schraagen

David Peebles

Robert J. B. Hutton

Erich J. Petushek



Abstract

The increasing complexity of work systems and changes in the nature of workplace technology over the past century have resulted in a substantial shift in the nature of work activities, from those predominated by physical labor toward more cognitively oriented work. Modern work systems have many characteristics that make them cognitively complex: They can be highly interactive; comprised of multiple agents and artifacts; information may be limited, contested, or distributed across space and time; problems can be unexpected and emergent; task goals are frequently ill-defined, conflicting, and dynamic; planning may only be possible at general levels of abstraction or require adaptive solutions; a considerable degree of proficiency or expertise is required; the stakes are often high; and problems usually involve uncertainty, time-constraints, and stress. To complicate matters further, cognition in complex work settings is typically constrained by broader professional, organizational, and institutional practices and policies, which themselves can be a moving target as work systems and organizations adapt to a constantly-changing landscape. These features of cognitive work present significant challenges to scientific methodology and theory, and to subsequent design of reliable work methods and the technologies that shape them.

Journal Article Type Editorial
Acceptance Date Mar 21, 2017
Online Publication Date Apr 20, 2017
Publication Date Apr 20, 2017
Deposit Date Aug 18, 2022
Publicly Available Date Aug 19, 2022
Journal Frontiers in Psychology
Electronic ISSN 1664-1078
Publisher Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Issue APR
DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00515
Keywords General psychology, adaptive thinking, complexity, expertise, human performance, cognition
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9887067
Publisher URL https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00515/full

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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2017 Ward, Hoffman, Conway, Schraagen, Peebles, Hutton and Petushek. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted
academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms





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