External Forces on the Work System: A Framework for Human Factors Implications

Human factors/ergonomics only occasionally addresses its own future, but business and political forces are changing so rapidly that we must do so now. Globalization of business, made possible by information technology and political desire, is affecting many aspects of our profession, from increased work pace to re-location of jobs. These changes in turn impact human factors issues as diverse as errors in human computer interaction and the incidence of musculo-skeletal disorders. This paper presents a framework for considering the impact of these changes on the practice of human factors/ergonomics so that we may plan for the future rather than be overwhelmed by it.