This single instrumental qualitative case study explores and thickly describes job performance outcomes based upon the manner in which self-directed learning activities of a purposefully selected sample of 3 construction managers are conducted, mediated by the use of Web 2.0 technology. The data collected revealed that construction managers are…

Changes in the health care environment have impacted nursing workload, quality of care, and patient safety. Traditional nursing workload measures do not guarantee efficiency, nor do they adequately capture the complexity of nursing workload. Review of the literature indicates nurses perceive the quality of their work has diminished. Research has…

Discusses why a properly fitting office chair is an important influence on productivity and health. Features to look for in chair selection, such as quality and adjustability, are highlighted, as are tips for evaluating and choosing a manufacturer. (GR)

An understanding of the uses of metacognition provides a powerful tool toward developing quality and efficiency in task learning and performance. Specific thinking skill categories of attention, organization, and elaboration are described with examples of how specific techniques can optimize learning and job performance. (Author/JOW)

The United States needs a skilled, productive work force. The science of human performance technology can be applied to the establishment of performance improvement systems in organizations. (Author)

Interviews with 12 older (ages 60 to 78) and 12 younger (ages 38 to 53) administrators showed that they had similar perceptions of the physical features and privacy issues in the workplace that facilitate or impede work. Structural accommodations may not be necessary for older workers, but attention to design and privacy issues is necessary for…

Recommended as a means for reducing human stress and errors in the work place, task analysis can be used to assist in decision making and provide a detailed inquiry into the actions that need to be taken in the performance of a specific job or task. (MER)

A survey of 120 administrators (59 aged 60+, 61 aged 35-50) found that both groups had similar perceptions of the association between office design and work activities. Older and younger workers ranked certain design features differently, and they had different perceptions of the privacy features of the work environment. (SK)

The author proposes a domain and definition for the human performance technology field. The proposed domain consists of three components: management functions, performance systems development functions, and components of human performance systems. He also discusses systems theory and professional practice and outlines implications for research,…

A review of literature 1992-1996 examined aging, job performance, and occupational well-being; successful workplace aging; aging, health, and safety; careers; retirement; older women; and age discrimination. Four conclusions were: (1) research has begun to involve more disciplines; (2) older workers should be considered as individuals; (3)…

Because the Navy needs tools to assess the personnel implications of proposed equipment and system designs, a literature search was conducted in 1978 to determine how hardware design engineers perceive the relationships between system design characteristics and the skills of the system operator and maintenance personnel. Recent studies conducted…

Training and development professionals play a unique role in helping people improve their performance by using all aspects of the work environment to make those improvements occur. These professions are currently debating the existence of an integrated theoretical framework and how it might support practice in their field. Human performance…

Self-report ergometric inventories can provide valuable information to employers and can serve as a means of intervention to improve employee attributes. Based on the science of ergonomics (a science that studies the natural laws of work in order to maximize human efficiency in job performance), such an inventory focuses on the interaction of the…

This monograph proposes and describes a systems-based field of study for the training and development (T&D) profession: human performance technology. The first section describes what is meant by a field of study and professional practice and then provides a rationale for the proposal. Section 2 explores training and development in the context…

Discusses health concerns associated with the use of video display terminals (VDT) and provides guidelines to enhance the performance of VDT users. Health issues addressed include radiation, musculoskeletal, psychological, and visual concerns. Guidelines for a well-designed VDT environment are also presented, including hardware considerations,…