Task Analysis

Question 1

Task Analysis

Answer 1

Used to understand and represent human and system performance in a particular task or scenario. Identify and understand: Things people do, act on, and need to know.

Question 2

Hierarchal Task Analysis (HTA)

Answer 2

Breaking down task into a hierarchy of goals, operations, and plans. Tasks broken down into a set of tasks, sub tasks, and plans.

Question 3

Goals

Answer 3

Unobservable task goals associated with the task in question.

Question 4

Operations

Answer 4

The observable behaviors or activities that the operator has to perform in order to accomplish the goal of the task in question.

Question 5

Plans

Answer 5

The unobservable decisions and planning made on behalf of the operator.

Question 6

HTA Steps

Answer 6

1. Determine overall goal of the task
2. Determine task sub-goals
3. Sub-goal decomposition
4. Plans analysis

Question 7

Advantages of HTA

Answer 7

Easy to learn, minimal training, quick, great insight, good for task description, wide range of purposes.

Question 8

Disadvantages of HTA

Answer 8

Doesn’t provide analytical information, doesn’t cater to cognitive components of task, can be laborious.

Question 9

Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA)

Answer 9

Breaks down the components of the task in terms of the cognitive ability required during each step. May examine the perceptual ability or motor ability requirements as well.