Cognitive Work Analysis
Introduction to CWA
Due to their complexity systems used within Network Centric Warfare and Command and Control are notoriously difficult to predict. These systems are often influenced by an ever increasing number of dynamic constraints. This dynamic instability causes problems for many traditional normative Human Factors techniques. Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) is a formative process that focuses on these constraints rather than prescriptive methods of working; this allows the model to handle unexpected unanticipated events common in network-centric warfare.
The framework considers the environment or domain in which the activity takes place. By using a suite of tools (see figure above) the framework models the system from five different perspectives. CWA has a proven track record in Systems modelling; Systems design; Training Needs Analysis; Training program evaluation and design; Interface design and evaluation; Information requirements specification; Tender evaluation; Team design; and Error management strategy design. Rather than focusing on how we use new technologies to execute our current tactics and doctrine better, CWA, through its focus on constraints, aims to determine how the new technologies enable us to do things differently. Traditional methods allow evolutionary incremental improvement. It is only through formative thinking based on approaches such as CWA that exponential improvements can be realised.
