A Review of the Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork Methodology

HFIDTC/WP1.1.3/10
Version 2/ 31 October 2005
Step 8: Further analysis
Once the initial process of transcribing and coding the observational data is complete,
further analysis of the data begins. Depending upon the nature of the analysis,
observation data is used to inform a number of different HF analyses, such as task
analysis, error analysis and communications analysis. Typically, observational data is
used to develop a task analysis (e.g. HTA) of the task or scenario under analysis.
Step 9: Participant feedback
Once the data has been analysed and conclusions have been drawn, the participants
involved should be provided with feedback of some sort. This could be in the form of a
feedback session or a letter to each participant. The type of feedback used is determined
by the analysis team.
Example
An observational analysis of a fire service training scenario was conducted as part of an
analysis of existing C4i activity in civil domains (Baber et al 2004). Three observers
observed the fire training service-training scenario, “Hazardous chemical spillage at
remote farmhouse”. The three observers sat in on the exercise and recorded the
discussion of the participants. The notes from the discussion were then collated into a
combined timeline of the incident. This timeline, and the notes taken during the exercise,
then formed the basis for the following HF analyses.
Hierarchical task analysis
Operator sequence diagram
Social network analysis
Co-ordination demand analysis
Comms usage diagram
Critical decision method
The exercise involved a combination of focus group discussion with paired activity in
order to define appropriate courses of action to deal with the specified incident. The class
facilitator provided the initial description of an incident, i.e. a report of possible
hazardous materials on a remote farm, and then added additional information as the
incident unfolded, e.g. reports of casualties, problems with labelling on hazardous
materials etc. The exercise was designed to encourage experienced fire-fighters to
consider risks arising from hazardous materials and the appropriate courses of action they
would need to take, e.g. in terms of protective equipment, incident management,
information seeking activities etc. From the data obtained during the observation, an
event flowchart was constructed, which acted as the primary input to the analysis
techniques used. The event flowchart is presented in Figure 3-10.
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