paul
Well-known member
have anyone on here wrote out a task anlasys before ? please explain?
task analysis
- Thread starter paul
- Start date
Rigger
Moderator
Hi Paul never wrote one myself but google brought this up, there is much more if you waht to go mad completely 
Task analysis
Summary
Task analysis analyses what a user is required to do in terms of actions and/or cognitive processes to achieve a task. A detailed task analysis can be conducted to understand the current system and the information flows within it. These information flows are important to the maintenance of the existing system and must be incorporated or substituted in any new system. Task analysis makes it possible to design and allocate tasks appropriately within the new system. The functions to be included within the system and the user interface can then be accurately specified.
Benefits
Provides knowledge of the tasks that the user wishes to perform. Thus it is a reference against which the value of the system functions and features can be tested.
But note that according to the USERfit guide:
Task decomposition
The aim of ‘high level task decomposition’ is to decompose the high level tasks and break them down into their constituent subtasks and operations. This will show an overall structure of the main user tasks. At a lower level it may be desirable to show the task flows, decision processes and even screen layouts (see task flow analysis, below)
The process of task decomposition is best represented as a structure chart (similar to that used in Hierarchical Task Analysis). This shows the sequencing of activities by ordering them from left to right. In order to break down a task, the question should be asked ‘how is this task done?’. If a sub-task is identified at a lower level, it is possible to build up the structure by asking ‘why is this done?’. The task decomposition can be carried out using the following stages:
1. Identify the task to be analysed.
2. Break this down into between 4 and 8 subtasks. These subtasks should be specified in terms of objectives and, between them, should cover the whole area of interest.
3. Draw the subtasks as a layered diagram ensuring that it is complete.
4. Decide upon the level of detail into which to decompose. Making a conscious decision at this stage will ensure that all the subtask decompositions are treated consistently. It may be decided that the decomposition should continue until flows are more easily represented as a task flow diagram.
5. Continue the decomposition process, ensuring that the decompositions and numbering are consistent. It is usually helpful to produce a written account as well as the decomposition diagram.
6. Present the analysis to someone else who has not been involved in the decomposition but who knows the tasks well enough to check for consistency.
Task flow diagrams
Task flow analysis will document the details of specific tasks. It can include details of interactions between the user and the current system, or other individuals, and any problems related to them. Copies of screens from the current system may also be taken to provide details of interactive tasks. Task flows will not only show the specific details of current work processes but may also highlight areas where task processes are poorly understood, are carried out differently by different staff, or are inconsistent with the higher level task structure.
Task analysis
Summary
Task analysis analyses what a user is required to do in terms of actions and/or cognitive processes to achieve a task. A detailed task analysis can be conducted to understand the current system and the information flows within it. These information flows are important to the maintenance of the existing system and must be incorporated or substituted in any new system. Task analysis makes it possible to design and allocate tasks appropriately within the new system. The functions to be included within the system and the user interface can then be accurately specified.
Benefits
Provides knowledge of the tasks that the user wishes to perform. Thus it is a reference against which the value of the system functions and features can be tested.
But note that according to the USERfit guide:
The reader should be aware that task analysis can be a very time consuming activity if used with a high degree of detail on complex problems. ... It is possible to get caught in what is loosely termed ‘analysis paralysis’, where more and more detail is investigated.
Method
Task decomposition
The aim of ‘high level task decomposition’ is to decompose the high level tasks and break them down into their constituent subtasks and operations. This will show an overall structure of the main user tasks. At a lower level it may be desirable to show the task flows, decision processes and even screen layouts (see task flow analysis, below)
The process of task decomposition is best represented as a structure chart (similar to that used in Hierarchical Task Analysis). This shows the sequencing of activities by ordering them from left to right. In order to break down a task, the question should be asked ‘how is this task done?’. If a sub-task is identified at a lower level, it is possible to build up the structure by asking ‘why is this done?’. The task decomposition can be carried out using the following stages:
1. Identify the task to be analysed.
2. Break this down into between 4 and 8 subtasks. These subtasks should be specified in terms of objectives and, between them, should cover the whole area of interest.
3. Draw the subtasks as a layered diagram ensuring that it is complete.
4. Decide upon the level of detail into which to decompose. Making a conscious decision at this stage will ensure that all the subtask decompositions are treated consistently. It may be decided that the decomposition should continue until flows are more easily represented as a task flow diagram.
5. Continue the decomposition process, ensuring that the decompositions and numbering are consistent. It is usually helpful to produce a written account as well as the decomposition diagram.
6. Present the analysis to someone else who has not been involved in the decomposition but who knows the tasks well enough to check for consistency.
Task flow diagrams
Task flow analysis will document the details of specific tasks. It can include details of interactions between the user and the current system, or other individuals, and any problems related to them. Copies of screens from the current system may also be taken to provide details of interactive tasks. Task flows will not only show the specific details of current work processes but may also highlight areas where task processes are poorly understood, are carried out differently by different staff, or are inconsistent with the higher level task structure.
superscaff75
Well-known member
similar to method statement but as above where a method statement is job specific, task analysis is basically what it says a specific task statement,
E.G 95% of a job is straight forward easy peasy scaffolding , the other 5% is say a cantilever, you would have method statement for job and task analysis for cantilever.
you can also do them as part of your health and safety procedures
E.G fixing of hilti ties
using sthil saw, or recip, loading unloading wagons, anything at all really,
think they originated offshore
---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------
ps i got copy of one somewhere if it helps
E.G 95% of a job is straight forward easy peasy scaffolding , the other 5% is say a cantilever, you would have method statement for job and task analysis for cantilever.
you can also do them as part of your health and safety procedures
E.G fixing of hilti ties
using sthil saw, or recip, loading unloading wagons, anything at all really,
think they originated offshore
---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------
ps i got copy of one somewhere if it helps
poacher turned gamekeeper
Well-known member
Hi Paul I used this info for Task Analysis description: in my NVQ L4 H&S. hope it helps!
Task analysis is the analysis of how a task is accomplished, including a detailed description of both manual and mental activities, task and element durations, task frequency, task allocation, task complexity, environmental conditions, necessary clothing and equipment, and any other unique factors involved in or required for one or more people to perform a given task. Task analysis emerged from research in applied behaviour analysis and still has considerable research in that area.
Information from a task analysis can then be used for many purposes, such as personnel selection and training, tool or equipment design, procedure design (e.g., design of checklists or decision support systems) and automation.
Applications of task analysis
The term "task" is often used interchangeably with activity or process. Task analysis often results in a hierarchical representation of what steps it takes to perform a task for which there is a goal and for which there is some lowest-level "action" that is performed. Task analysis is often performed by human factors professionals.
Task analysis may be of manual tasks, such as bricklaying, and be analyzed as time and motion studies using concepts from industrial engineering. Cognitive task analysis is applied to modern work environments such as supervisory control where little physical work occurs, but the tasks are more related to situation assessment, decision making, and response planning and execution.
Task analysis is also used in education. It is a model that is applied to classroom tasks to discover which curriculum components are well matched to the capabilities of students with learning disabilities and which task modification might be necessary. It discovers which tasks a person hasn't mastered, and the information processing demands of tasks that are easy or problematic. In behaviour modification, it is a breakdown of a complex behavioural sequence into steps. This often serves as the basis for chaining.
Task analysis is the analysis of how a task is accomplished, including a detailed description of both manual and mental activities, task and element durations, task frequency, task allocation, task complexity, environmental conditions, necessary clothing and equipment, and any other unique factors involved in or required for one or more people to perform a given task. Task analysis emerged from research in applied behaviour analysis and still has considerable research in that area.
Information from a task analysis can then be used for many purposes, such as personnel selection and training, tool or equipment design, procedure design (e.g., design of checklists or decision support systems) and automation.
Applications of task analysis
The term "task" is often used interchangeably with activity or process. Task analysis often results in a hierarchical representation of what steps it takes to perform a task for which there is a goal and for which there is some lowest-level "action" that is performed. Task analysis is often performed by human factors professionals.
Task analysis may be of manual tasks, such as bricklaying, and be analyzed as time and motion studies using concepts from industrial engineering. Cognitive task analysis is applied to modern work environments such as supervisory control where little physical work occurs, but the tasks are more related to situation assessment, decision making, and response planning and execution.
Task analysis is also used in education. It is a model that is applied to classroom tasks to discover which curriculum components are well matched to the capabilities of students with learning disabilities and which task modification might be necessary. It discovers which tasks a person hasn't mastered, and the information processing demands of tasks that are easy or problematic. In behaviour modification, it is a breakdown of a complex behavioural sequence into steps. This often serves as the basis for chaining.
superscaff75
Well-known member
A website i use frequently Paul is step change in safety, it also has a forum aswell, its based mainly around the offshore industry and has some brilliant information available .
Ive searched the site for task analysis and this link will take you to the results page ok.
Step Change in Safety
hope it helps
Ive searched the site for task analysis and this link will take you to the results page ok.
Step Change in Safety
hope it helps