Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Appl Ergon. 2014 Jan;45(1):45-54. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2013.04.021. Epub 2013 May 24.
In this paper we elaborate and articulate the need for what has been termed 'mesoergonomics'. In particular, we argue that the concept has the potential to bridge the gap between, and integrate, established work within the domains of micro- and macroergonomics. Mesoergonomics is defined as an open systems approach to human factors and ergonomics (HFE) theory and research whereby the relationship between variables in at least two different system levels or echelons is studied, and where the dependent variables are human factors and ergonomic constructs. We present a framework which can be used to structure a set of questions for future work and prompt further empirical and conceptual inquiry. The framework consists of four steps: (1) establishing the purpose of the mesoergonomic investigation; (2) selecting human factors and ergonomics variables; (3) selecting a specific type of mesoergonomic investigation; and (4) establishing relationships between system levels. In addition, we describe two case studies which illustrate the workings of the framework and the value of adopting a mesoergonomic perspective within HFE. The paper concludes with a set of issues which could form part of a future agenda for research within systems ergonomics.
本文详细阐述并明确了所谓“中观工效学”的必要性。具体而言，我们认为该概念具有弥合微观和宏观工效学领域内已有工作之间差距并对其进行整合的潜力。中观工效学被定义为一种开放系统方法，用于人类因素和工效学（HFE）理论和研究，其中研究了至少两个不同系统层次或阶层之间的变量关系，并且其中的因变量是人类因素和工效学构建。我们提出了一个框架，可以用于为未来的工作构建一组问题，并促使进一步进行实证和概念性研究。该框架包括四个步骤：（1）确定中观工效学研究的目的；（2）选择人类因素和工效学变量；（3）选择特定类型的中观工效学研究；（4）建立系统层次之间的关系。此外，我们描述了两个案例研究，说明了框架的工作原理以及在 HFE 中采用中观工效学观点的价值。本文最后提出了一组可能构成系统工效学未来研究议程一部分的问题。
