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On the influence of control task
demands on the benefits of active control devices (Vol. 1/2000) Author: Stephan Mücke Keywords: ergonomics; man machine interface; (active) control devices; haptic feedback; design guidelines; manual control; tracking Summary: Using by-wire-technology - that is replacing mechanical links between input device and the controlled machine by electronic signal processing - the question arises for the need and design of haptic feedback at the control device. Thus existing knowledge about so called active control devices and their design was gathered and extended by tracking experiments. A two-dimensional active sidestick,
that uses manual force as input signal and feeds back the
systems output via devlection, was compared to a classic spring centered sidestick. Subjective workload measurement with SWORD (Vol. 1/2000) Authors: Claudius Pfendler and Jörg Schweingruber Keywords: Input Load; Workload; Subjective Workload Measurement Method; Workload Profile; Flight Control Task Summary: After a general evaluation of subjective workload measurement methods a comprehensive description of the Subjective WORkload Dominance Technique (SWORD) follows. Compared to the other subjective methods, SWORD has the advantage that it is based on relative evaluations. As an example SWORD is applied in a flight control task in which pilots and copilots rate workload of seven mission phases of two different flights in a flight simulator. The mission phases are compared and the results are correlated with interview data of the crews. Finally, the meaningfulness and applicability aspects of this method will be discussed. Analysis of job satisfaction
after establishing a flextime model at a german Authors: Yvonne Ferreira and Jens Pfitzinger Keywords: job satisfaction; flextime; working time system; working hours Summary: For the employed ground staff of a german airport a new working time system, based on a time account was introduced. Main targets for the company were among others the reduction of staff costs, the optimisation of the productivity, the lowering of time debits and the creation of developing opportunities for staff and company. With a measuring instrument developed at the Institut für Arbeitswissen-schaft, Technische Universität Darmstadt (IAD), the job satisfaction and the acceptance of the new working time system have been examined in order to show further deficits and to reach the stated targets. 289 questionnaires was evaluated. The results led to a catalogue with advises for design. Management-by-Objectives and telework (Vol. 1/2000) Authors: Christian Hager, Christian Stary and Alex Totter Keywords: Management by Objectives; Telework; Conceptual Analysis; Empirical Study; Total Quality Management Summary: This interdisciplinary study investigates in how far Management by Objectives (MbO) can be applied successfully in organisational settings that include (different forms of) telework. After a conceptual analysis of telework with respect to management activities as well as the foundations of Management By Objectives, 10 top managers involved in telework activities in Bavaria and Austria have been interviewed in a problem-centred way. The interviews have been focusing on finding empirical evidence for the conceptually derived commonalties. The study reveals that Management By Objective is hardly applied in the context of telework, although the conceptual findings indicate that Management By Objectives is a promising candidate for managing telework. Particular reasons for the low degree of diffusion are the lack of participatory work style in telework, ill-defined objectives and contents of telework, and quality control without feedback cycles (as required for Management By Objectives). Overall, it has been shown that any successful implementation of MbO in the context of telework requires the complete and thorough implementation of MbO-concepts and guidelines. Further development and
construct validity of a questionnaire for Authors: Daniel Sodenkamp and Klaus-Helmut Schmidt Keywords: Role ambiguity; facets of job ambiguity; supervisory behavior; feedback; self-efficacy Summary: The distinction of three facets of job ambiguity refers to the experienced uncertainty about the work methods to be used, the uncertainty about how to schedule the work, and the uncertainty about the performance criteria to be met. An existing questionnaire for measuring these facets (Breaugh & Colihan 1994; Schmidt & Hollmann 1998) has been modified and reexamined. The results indicate a less oblique distribution of the item responses for the modified questionnaire in comparison with the original version. The psychometric properties of the modified questionnaire are comparable to those of the original. Furthermore, findings support the view that the items for measuring work method ambiguity and scheduling ambiguity could be represented by one single factor. Finally, indications of convergent and discriminant validity of the ambiguity scales are reported. Economical relevance of health and safety regulation (Vol. 1/2000) Author: Gerd Grundel Keywords: efficiency; increased evaluation of economic efficiency; proportion ratio due to health; motivation; undisturbed functions/service; competitivenes by safety regulations Summary: The publication is
regarding the problem of cost-advantage analysis of safety regulation measures in job. The
benefical advantage for the entrepreneurs is demonstrated by a few examples of security
line. This advantage has proven itself for the employees, the social security and the
government as well as the fellow competitors. The reasons for the negligent behavior of
employees has been observed. The calculative advantage in costreduction by higher
percentage of presence of employees is another gain for the organisation. Moreover further
possibilities are, the notice of efficiency that is based on current problem analysis and
hence resulting concrete objectives wich are being introduced. A possibility of valuation
of health and safety regulation measures in view of the effect the cost and intervention
in the Employment orientated Design of Working time as a Positive-Sum-Game Author: Helmut Spitzley Keywords: unemployment, labor market, new division of labor, working time, working conditions, labor policy, organizational development, Positive-Sum-Game, future of human work Summary: Is it possible to arrange
working times in a positiv-sum-game i. e. with profit for employees and unemployed,
companies and society? The article gives a theoratical frame and five examples of good
practice. At the end a new definition of "full employment" is suggested. Changes in the relationship between
paid and unpaid work – more autonomy and new Author: Marianne Resch Keywords: Future of work, unpaid work, community or voluntary work, domestic and family work. Summary: It is often supposed, that unpaid work becomes more important as unemployment rises. Unpaid work contains activities for community or voluntary work, domestic and family work. To be considered is whether this kind of work is primarily characterized by positive implications such as autonomy and cooperation. The results of a governmental time budget study shows, that unpaid work in private households represents an important amount of the work done in our society. In order to determine the level of quality of unpaid work, it is necessary to analyse the concrete activities. Self-determined working processes don´t automatically include working activities with positive impact upon health and personal development. Employment oriented worktime patterns Author: Eberhard Ulich Keywords: Reduction of working time, alternative work and live patterns Summary: Basing on experiences and propositions from past decades work time patterns are described which aim at the avoidance of dismissals or the additional engagement of formerly unemployed persons. Subsequently some aspects of the discussion about alternative work and life patterns are discussed. In this context the question of a basic income plays a central role. The Volkswagen model. Employees and the ‚living plant‘ Author: Kerstin Jürgens Keywords: working hours, flexible working time, conduct of life, Volkswagen Summary: The reduction of collectively agreed working time to 28.8 hours at the german Volkswagen AG has moved as a new "model" of redistribution of work into the centre of debates within the scientific community and the general public. For the first time, whole work forces of an enterprise, blue-collar workers as well as executive stuff, reduced working hours and income and could avoid mass redundancies. By this means they bring about a solidly united solution of the crisis of VW, caused by a crisis on the international car market and internal rationalisation processes. However, the analysis of this new model shows that the scope between the abstract formulations in the collective labour agreement and the radical change of actual working structures is immense: The agreement entails a transition to flexible working time, various time schedules in the different plants of Volkswagen and an intensification of work. They are leading to a plurality and diversity of working conditions and working hours and affect whether employees accept the new agreement and how they adapt to changing obligations in working life. The essay introduces in the main facets of the new model and presents the results of different empirical studies which analysed the effects of the agreement at Volkswagen to living conditions outside the factory. The studies illustrate that the ‘living plant’ – as Volkswagen has naimed its planning of production and manpower according to the market – causes problems in everyday life of workers. Employment-oriented organization of working hours in France Authors: Katrin Soll, Heinz Schüpbach und Martina Zölch Keywords: Reduction in working hours, assurance of employment, France, Loi Aubry, Loi-35-Heures Summary: In a comparative study in Eastern France and Southern Germany the question was explored which measures of employment-oriented organization of working hours are discussed in public and in companies and are translated into action, respectively. In the centre of the present study stood the Loi Aubry and the resulting legally established introduction of the thirty-five-hour week in France in the year 2000, a far-reaching state-intervention into entrepreneurial design of work time that caused considerable attention at home as well as abroad. The goal of this research endeavour was to assess, how openly the respective legal, political, and social framework was taken up and discussed in companies and if it led to small-scale ‘alliances for work’. In a first step a literature-, internet- and press report-based investigation was carried out. Then, governmental representatives as well as head officials of administrative offices and unions were asked for relevant information. Finally, case studies of personnel managers of companies in Eastern France and Southern Germany were executed: the former were interviewed about the introduction of the thirty-five-hour week and the latter about employment-oriented forms of organizing working hours. Publicly financed personnel and
organizational development as employment effective Author: Herrad Höcker Keywords: Jobrotation, organizational development, redistribution, publicly financed further training Summary: The Danish jobrotation scheme can be called a win/win-model which meets both the interests of firms, employees and unemployed. The implementation of this complex model facilitates by a well established public system of further training, and the strong consensus orientation in the Danish society. Different cases show how flexibly the system reacts, also confronted with new tasks in the area of organizational development and entrepreneurial networks. Employment orientated working time projects in Switzerland Authors: Eberhard Ulich, Sandra Peter und Mirko Degener Keywords: employment orientated working time models , evaluation and examples of good practice Summary: In Switzerland we find several examples of sucessful employment orientated working time projects which were proposed and/or evaluated by the authors of this paper. Some of them are reported here. Working time models with employment
effect - Experiences in health care Authors: Sandra Peter und Oliver Strohm Keywords: working time models, employment effect, health care domain Summary: In the scope of the project "working time models with employment effect (BAM)" in the public health care domain of a swiss canton (Zurich) experiences in five hospitals have been made. With the participation of over 170 employees out of the various professions in a hospital (i.e. medical practitioners, nursing staff, therapists, technical, administrational and domestic staff) an employment effect of 14 full time jobs was attained. The experiences have been analyzed and evaluated in a longitudinal study. The results show a positive valuation of the experiences. 91% of the employees who took part in one of the BAM would participate again. 33% will continue working part time after finishing the project. In detail the participation in a BAM shows a positive effect on well-being, team-work, work-motivation, work quality and productivity. Beside these positive effects all BAM lead to an additional expenditure of administration, leadership and coordination . Competence development in the work process Author: Bärbel Bergmann Keywords: work design, learning, competence, competence development Summary: Changes in the area of work wich are characterized by globalization, increased acceleration of product development, increased technology, increased requirements on ecological production and other trends give reasons for the fact that learning is a substantial component of professional work. This learning, is described as development of competence. Competence can be understood as the ability of selforganized learning. Development of competence largely takes place in the process of work by dealing with tasks. Empirical studies show that higher competence grades are shown by persons with professional tasks which are more problematic and which provoke a dialogical learning by requirements to cooperation and that higher competence grades are shown by organizations which support learning. But changes in the area of work lead to conflicts in competence development. These will be explained. Possibilities to cover situations of fluctuating orders by using flexible workforce Authors: Hartmut Enderlein und Marion Sager Keywords: Flexible working hours, flexible workforce, simulation Summary: Situations of fluctuating orders result in fluctuating personnel requirements. In order to cover these requirements simultaneously, information on the fluctuations and the effects of flexible measures to achieve working hours must be examined. This paper will demonstrate how this information may be attained by means of simulating the manufacturing process. Flexible working hours serve as a method to use personnel according to need; flexible locations at which the personnel work are a second method. The combination of both methods increases flexibility. This paper will examine the possibilities of employing various personnel locations both within a single company and between companies. A new way to discover and
evaluate work - a major task for ergonomics in the future Author: Wolfgang Quaas Keywords: Work-concept; new action
fields of the ergonomics; work-analysis and evaluation; Summary: Based on changing trends in
the working world some current problems of ergonomics development are described and
discussed from a personal point of view. These are concerning definition and accordingly
comprehension of work and the ergonomic's Techniques of human
reliability analysis (Vol. 3-4/2000) Summary: The human reliability
analysis (HRA) or the human error probability (HEP) respectively are an important issue in
so-called risk industries. However, the application of methods and techniques for HRA
shouldn't be restricted to such industries; on the contrary, their deployment in
industrial production systems should be examined as well. Human errors can have an
essential effect on the quality of products and processes in such systems. Individual execution and
economy of oscillatory work movements during a simulated Author: Felix Klimmer Keywords: Economy; work movements; kinematic; performance; energy expenditure; efficiency Summary: Individual differences of
execution and economy of work movements in practice were investigated with a simulation of
mechanical brush cutting. Kinematic variables as well as Anthropometric analysis and design of a driver's work place in a side loading refuse collecting vehicle (Vol. 3-4/2000) Authors: Matthias Hillecke, Martin Schütte and Wolfgang Laurig Keywords: side loading refuse collecting vehicle; driver's work place; anthropometry; man-model; work place design; alteration and redesign Summary: To reduce the load on the driver, modifications in design of a typical side loading refuse collecting vehicle were proposed, based on an anthropometric analysis of the driver's work place. To empty the refuse containers, side loading vehicles have an extension arm placed on the right side of the vehicle behind the driver's cabin, which can be controlled from the driver's work place by way of a joy-stick. The actual design of the driver's work place was analyzed, taking into account five different anthropometric evaluation criteria. Here, especially during the emptying of containers, the driver's sight conditions and posture proved to be deficient. Two construction alternatives, one alteration and one redesign, were developed and all relevant construction aspects were demonstrated by respective CAD drawings. Based on the criteria of sight conditions and posture, it was finally proven that on account of such construction the deficits shown in the initial actual analysis are avoided. Empirical investigation of GroupWare for chemical process design (Vol. 3-4/2000) Authors: Martin Wolf, Christian Foltz, Christopher Schlick and Holger Luczak Keywords: GroupWare; chemical process design; Requirements Engineering; Rapid Prototyping Summary: Task processes and forms of communication in chemical design processes are presented as a result of an empirical investigation. The representation of these results and the derivation of requirements for the design of GroupWare systems are carried out with a new method that was especially developed for this purpose. The presented investigations finally lead to a concept of a GroupWare system, called EVA ("Entwicklungsunterstützung verfahrenstechnischer Anlagen") which is based on the inquiries and customized to its specific requirements. EVA provides possibilities to structure and exchange necessary project information on the one hand and represents these information regarding relevant criteria for development in mentally compatible way. With an evaluation of EVA validity and utility were proven and further requirement to this GroupWare concept were derived. Effects of process duration
and process indicators on work strategy and strain during Author: Florian Schaefer, Ralf Schäfer and Wolfram Boucsein Keywords: Multi-tasking; stress-strain; scheduling; human-computer interaction; process indicators Summary: In comparison with a complicated CAD task used in an earlier study, multi-tasking during a much easier simulated control panel task did not benefit from the use of static or dynamic process indicators. Forty-eight subjects performed six task sequences with different indicators in counterbalanced order while the background process duration was either 10 or 30 s. Task completion time, various work strategy measures, electrodermal and cardiorespiratory activity, and subjective ratings were recorded. A significant increase of electrodermal activity in the group with the 10 s process duration was interpreted as due to the work-strategy interrupting effects of the process indicators, which otherwise might facilitate scheduling. It is recommended to determine the critical background process duration and its predictability for the user prior to introducing process indicators in multi-tasking systems. Expert careers for engineers - A procedure for systematic development of competence (Vol. 3-4/2000) Authors: Ekkehart Frieling, Sven Grote und Simone Kauffeld Keywords: Competence; development of competence; expert career; research and development Summary: Taking up the discussion
about the shift in interest from education by seminars to internal company competence
development a systematic procedure for the development of
competence is described. An example concerning the development of expert careers for
engineers in the field of research and development of a automobile company is described. Learning support by
experienced characteristics of working tasks - Development and Authors: Falk Richter and Barbara Wardanjan Keywords: Training on the job; subjective job assessment; job design Summary: Job related learning on a
large scale takes place while dealing with working tasks. Learning promotion by
corporate culture- How it is assessed by the questionnaire on Authors: Barbara Wardanjan, Falk Richter and Katja Uhlemann Keywords: Learning at work; job design; corporate culture Summary: Possibilities of learning
at work/training on the job are mainly determined by aspects of corporate culture. Current
paper deals with the development of a questionnaire to assess Correlation between age and the self-concept of competence of skilled workers Authors: Bärbel Bergmann and Susan Wilczek Keywords: age; competence; learning promotion at work; work design Summary: The acceleration of development in all sections of economy leads to learning demands also in the tasks of skilled workers. The readiness and the ability to life-long learning become the most important ability and learning at work must change into a self-organizational process, demanding high motivation. The demographic development is the reason for the fact that also elderly workers have to cope with higher learning demands. The aim of this study is to prove the hypothesis about correlation between task design at work as well as organizational design on the one side and the efficiency of self-organized learning on the other side, measured by the self concept of competence. In a correlative design the learning relevant characteristics of work tasks and of organizational conditions and the self concept of vocational competence were measured per person using the data of 362 skilled workers. The results show no correlation between facets of self assessments of competence and age for skilled workers with learning demands in their tasks and learning promotion by organizational conditions, but negative correlations between facets of self assessment of competence and age for skilled workers with work tasks with low learning demands and a lower level of learning promotion in organization. Especially the motivation for self organized learning is lower in the second group. Development of vocational
competencies by a task oriented cooperative knowledge Author: Niclas Schaper Keywords: training on the job; self appraisal of job competencies; cooperative learning; task oriented knowledge exchange Summary: Demands of job oriented learning change in the context of modern work structures. Elaborated training-on-the-job methods, which also develop transferable competencies, are seen as an effective means to cope with these demands and to support self-organizational learning on the job. The method of the "task-oriented cooperative knowledge exchange" from Neubert and Tomczyk (1986) is a concept concerning the above mentioned issues to develop the knowledge and skills of the participating employees. It is reported an evaluation study, which tests the question, if the task-oriented cooperative knowledge exchange not only supports the development of job-specific, but also transferable cognitive, social and motivational competencies of the participants. The study was designed as a quasi-experimental field study with pre- and posttest measurements and a control group. Participants were 51 operators of a complex chemical plant. The learning effects were tested by written tests and self appraisals concerning changes of 24 job competencies. Also, the moderating effects of learning relevant personality characteristics and organizational context conditions were analyzed. Diagnosis of professional
competence of action in coping with optimization tasks in Authors: Simone Kauffeld, Sven Grote and Ekkehart Frieling Keywords: competence; development of competence; organizational diagnosis; group Summary: The professional competence
of action is in the focus of attention of new managerial concepts like total quality
management (TQM), continuous improvement process, teamwork and project work. The
independent coping with problems of the own working scope as well as department
overlapping issues are required from both office workers and industrial workers. But how
can the professional competence of action of employees in coping with optimization tasks
be measured? How can starting-points for competence developing measures be found? With the
comparison of competence profiles of municipal supply companies and industrial
organizations the "Kasseler-Kompetenz-Raster", a method for the diagnosis of
competence, is illustrated. The state of the employees competence in organizations to
solve problems on their working scope, plan optimizations and to participate in changes is
shown. Measures for the Innovative working time arrangements: profitability and humanity?` (Vol. 5/2000) Author: Peter Knauth Keywords: Working time, Shift system, Flexibility, Profitability, Humanity Summary: This article deals with the
question of whether high flexibility of working time
arrangements (in order to obtain high profitability) can only be achieved at the expense
of
humanity. It will be shown that all working time models may be classified in four
categories
based on the two dimensions "profitability" and "humanity".
The implementation of innovative working time arrangements may raise many acceptance problems. Therefore, the strategy of implementation is as important as the design of an adequate working time model. Based on our experience in more than 50 working time projects, the most important factors which are helpful in supporting the implementation of an innovative working time arrangement will be discussed. Introduction of self selected work
hours in retail work – effects on work satisfaction, Authors: Arne Lowden and Torbjörn Åkerstedt Keywords: Flexibility, Staffing, Software, Individual differences, Shift work Summary: A study followed the
introduction of self-selected work hours, in the retail business. Psychosocial aspects of flexible
shift work arrangements in hospital nurses Authors: Michael Kundi, Gerda Wöckinger Keywords: Shift work, Flexible schedules, Nurses, Family, Sleep Summary: In a questionnaire based
study 134 female nurses were interviewed. The aim of the
study was to assess possible benefits of flexible shift work arrangements as compared to
traditional 12-hour day/night shift and 8-hour three-shift schedules with respect to
interference
with family and leisure time activities as well as recreation and sleep. Participatory design of work
schedules in public local transport (PLT) thorugh Authors: Patric C. Gauderer, Peter Knauth Keywords: Working time, Flexibilization, Personalization, Public Local Transport, Service provider, Shift scheduling Summary: In many PLT companies,
drivers work to rigidly-defined shift-work schedules
and/or duty rotas. This article describes an approach in which these rigid structures are
relaxed, so that working hours can be timed so as to coincide with the staff members'
needs. Innovative Approaches to extendes working hours can benefit workers (Vol. 5/2000) Authors: Ronald J. Heslegrave, Lawrence Reinish, Joanne Beyers, Gordon Hall Keywords: Shift work, Night work, 10-hour shifts Summary: A recent study reported
that following a change to 12-hour shift durations, workers
reported significantly greater performance impairment at the end of the longer shift as
well as
greater levels of fatigue and lapses in attention, feeling significantly less refreshed by
sleep,
more sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances, and more driving problems while commuting to
and from the workplace. Based on these findings, the potential for negative consequences
associated with extended shift durations was assessed over a one-month period in an
innovative change to 10 hour shifts in an underground mining workplace. Sleep wake cycles of medical residents working extended shifts in israel (Vol. 5/2000) Authors: Rachel Epstein, Orna Tzischinsky, Tov Nave, Chillag Nela, Zohar Dov, Lavie Peretz Keywords: Residents, Shift work, Actigraph, Sleep deprivation Summary: Chronic partial sleep
deprivation, high levels of workload, and long shifts up to 32
hours characterize the work conditions of Israeli medical residents. The purpose of this
study
was to provide specific information on residents' sleep-wake cycles, especially during
night
shift. Seventy-eight residents participated in the study: 53 males and 25 females, mean
age=30.7± 2.7 years. The study was conducted in 15 medical departments in 4 hospitals. Meta analyses of the epidemiological
literature on shift work and heart disease Authors: Henrik Bøggild, Anders Knutsson Keywords: Shift work, Heart disease, Meta analysis, Risk, Epidemiology Summary: Shift work has been
associated with a higher risk of heart disease. The
epidemiological literature is heterogeneous with some studies finding risks for shift
workers
twice as high as for day workers, while other studies do not find shift workers to be at a
higher
risk of heart disease. We have examined the literature, using a meta analytic approach to
give
both a more precise estimate of the risk and to explore reasons for the apparent
heterogeneity. |