About the Author
Steven Shorrock is an interdisciplinary humanistic, systems and design practitioner interested in human work from multiple perspectives.
Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) & Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist (CErgHF)
Category Archives: systems thinking
Four Kinds of Thinking: 2. Systems Thinking
Understanding and intervention for system performance and human wellbeing is rooted – to some extent – in four kinds of thinking. In this short series, I outline these. This post concerns Systems Thinking. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged systems safety, systems thinking
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The Reality of Goal Conflicts and Trade-offs
“Safety is our number 1 priority!” But is it really? Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged decision making, goal conflicts, goals, systems thinking, trade-offs
1 Comment
Shorrock’s Law of Limits
“When you put a limit on a measure, if that measure relates to efficiency, the limit will be used as a target.” Continue reading
Posted in systems thinking
Tagged limits, measures, regulation, systems thinking, targets
The Organisational Homelessness of ‘Human Factors’
In this post, I outline four common homes for HF/E within organisations, drawing on personal experience in each of the four organisational divisions in different organisations. I conclude with some of the implications of organisational homelessness. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, systems thinking
Tagged ergonomics, human factors, organisations, silos, systems thinking, work
Reflections from the edge
I have ‘worked on work’ for my whole professional career. For the majority of that time, I have worked primarily in aviation. Unlike many in the industry my primary interest is not in aviation, any more than it is in … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Humanistic Psychology, systems thinking
Tagged ethnography, observing, work, work-as-done
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‘Human Factors’ and ‘Human Performance’: What’s the difference?
The term ‘Human Performance’ (and ‘Human and Organisational Performance’ (or HOP) has become increasingly common in recent years in a number of industries, especially those with a safety focus. It is often associated with ‘Human Factors’, or even used as … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Safety, systems thinking
Tagged behaviour, design, discipline, ergonomics, human factors, human performance, practice, profession, science, work
5 Comments