Work Domain Analysis for Identification of Training Needs and Training-System Design

Abstract

Training needs analysis is critical for designing effective training systems. However, traditional techniques for analysing training needs are inadequate for capturing the demands of modern workplaces, where the primary role of workers is to adapt on-line to cope with unpredictable contingencies. By identifying the functional structure of a work domain, which is independent of particular events, work domain analysis provides a framework for informing the design of training systems that will allow workers to be trained to deal with unpredictable situations. To illustrate this argument, we outline a work domain analysis of a fighter aircraft and show how it may be used for identifying the training needs of fighter pilots and for deriving functional specifications for a training system for this work domain.