Human Performance

Conklin's book is an interesting and informal discussion with the reader about the 5 Principles of Human Performance principle by principle, chapter by chapter. These 5 theroies about how humans perform in organiations are principles, the building blocks of Human Performance, through which we have established a new way to think about safety and reliability in our worlds. ...and changing the way we think about work is a vital step towards improvement.Work never stops and work is never normal. This idea would scare a mere-mortal manager, but an enlightened leader knows the power of continuous learning and improvement. Work is constantly in motion, therefore learning must continue. Work is never the same, therefore we never really know how work is being done. If we don't know how we perform work how will we know how we can improve?The 5 Principles of Human Performance are, in a sense, a repository of the central values of Human Performance. Keeping these principles at the core of our thinking, training, and practices will allow the basic building blocks of this philosophy to help organizational programs reduce the normal philosophical drift that is present and predictable in all safety programs. Having these espoused principles keeps us all honest and keeps our Human Performance effort on track and successful.

"A guide to the Eat, Sweat, Thrive curriculum used for Navy Seals intended to enhance training for firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, and other tactical athletes"--

Abstract: The purpose of this book is to create a framework for studying human performance based on the physical and intellectual limits of human beings. The first chapter is an introduction to the skills of modern man. The remaining chapters address the following topics: learning and skilled performance, motivation, component processes and performance capacities, measurement of skills, perceptual-motor skills, and language skills.

Focusing on the wealth of information emerging in the area of energy medicine, this unique resource explores mechanisms by which mind and body processes influence the body's healing and performance potential. Content draws on an extraordinary range of sources to explore theories of human energy - from physiology and biophysics, to examples drawn from the realms of "spontaneous healing," cutting-edge athletic and artistic performance, the martial arts, and various contemplative and spiritual practices. Providing new insights and theoretical models, it offers ways to apply these concepts directly, practically, and clinically.

Today's dynamic organizations must achieve positive results in record time - a challenge that requires managers to avoid problems before they arise and to solve these issues quickly. Human Performance Improvement (HPI) is a powerful tool that can be used to help build intellectual capital, establish and maintain a 'high-performance workplace, enhance profitability, and encourage productivity' - as well as increase return on equity and improved safety. Written by a group of highly respected authors in the field, this book will show you how to:- - discover and analyze performance gaps - plan for future improvements in human performance - design and develop cost-effective interventions to close performance gaps.

Understanding the conditions under which variability in performance may arise, and the processes related to its emergence, gives us insight into the development of techniques for improving the quality of performance. Variability in Human Performance details the scientific and the practical implications of human performance variability by providing a broad perspective on how and why such variability occurs across a number of disciplinary domains. The text takes an approach that rests upon the idea of context, or design, specificity in performance, namely that variability in performance is closely referenced to design factors in the environment in which performance is occurring. An exploration of the link between variability and related processes, the book introduces a comprehensive framework for understanding human performance variability, presented in terms of how human control of behavior is closely tied to design factors in the performance environment. The authors introduce empirical evidence, as well as practical examples and application areas, in support of this framework. The book begins with coverage of neurobiological and biomechanical basis of movement variability, then examines rich and extensive empirical evidence available for context specificity in cognitive performance and learning, as a basis for cognitive performance variability. The book then reviews the evidence for context specificity in: Student learning Displaced feedback conditions Human error behavior Affective performance Social and team performance The authors also explore work performance as influenced by complex sociotechnical systems and as a basis for performance variability, applying control systems concepts to an interpretation of the nature and basis of performance variability in all of these domains. They conclude by taking an evolutionary perspective on the origins and behavioral significance of human performance variability. The book then provides strategies on how individuals, groups, and organizations can significantly reduce variability in human performance that often leads to systems failures.

Human Performance and Ergonomics brings together a comprehensive and modern account of how the context of performance is crucial to understanding behavior. Environment provides both constraints and opportunities to individuals, such that external conditions may have reciprocal or interactive effects on behavior. The book begins with an account of research in human factors and engineering, with application of research to real world environments, methodological concerns, and rumination on current and future trends. The book proceeds to how technology has moved from being designed to help human physical survival to helping humans achieve "quality of life" improvements. Real world examples are explored in detail including hearing technology, driving, and aviation. Issues of control, maneuvering, and planning are discussed in conjunction with how intention and expectancy affect behavior. The fit between human and environment is examined as a dynamic interaction, and many chapters address the all important human-machine communication, particularly that between humans and computers. The book closes with a reminder that even our technological environment is filled with other people, with whom we must interact personally or via technology, to achieve our larger goals. Teamwork is thus discussed for its integration of cognitive, behavioral, and affective components toward our achieving desired aims. * Includes the application of research in human factors in engineering to real world environments * Discussion of both current and future trends is included * Real-world examples of how technology is now helping humans to achieve "quality of life" improvements are explored in detail including hearing technology, driving and aviation * Many chapters examine the all important human/machine communication, particularly human-computer interaction (HCI)

Human Performance provides the student and researcher with a comprehensive and accessible review of performance, in the real world and essential cognitive science theory. Four main sections cover both theoretical and practical issues: Section One outlines the perspectives on performance offered by contemporary cognitive science, including information processing and neuroscience perspectives. Section Two presents a multi-level view of the performer as biological organism, information-processor and intentional agent. It reviews the development of the cognitive theory of performance through experimental studies and also looks at practical issues such as human error. Section Three reviews the impact of stress factors such as noise, fatigue and illness on performance. Section Four assesses individual and group differences in performance with accounts of ability, personality and aging.