GTA: Groupware task analysis — Modeling complexity

• Published in: Acta psychologica Vol. 91; no. 3; pp. 297 - 322
• Main Authors: van der Veer, Gerrit C., Lenting, Bert F., Bergevoet, Bas A.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Hague Elsevier B.V 01.04.1996; Martinus Nijhoff
• Subjects: Design; Ethnography; Groupware; Human-Computer interface; Task analysis; Task modeling; User interface design; Task modeling; Ethnography; Groupware; 4010; User interface design; Task analysis
• ISSN: 0001-6918; 1873-6297
• DOI: 10.1016/0001-6918(95)00065-8

The task analysis methods discussed in this presentation stem from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Ethnography (as applied for the design of Computer Supported Cooperative Work — CSCW), different disciplines that often are considered conflicting approaches when applied to the same design problems. Both approaches have their strength and weakness, and an integration of them does add value to the early stages of design of cooperation technology. In order to develop an integrated method for groupware task analysis (GTA) a conceptual framework is presented that allows a systematic perspective on complex work phenomena. The framework features a triple focus, considering (a) people, (b) work, and (c) the situation. Integrating various task-modeling approaches requires vehicles for making design information explicit, for which an object oriented formalism will be suggested. GTA consists of a method and framework that have been developed during practical design exercises. Examples from some of these cases will illustrate our approach.