Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Stage 3: Co-constructive analysis of work practices
The attempts made by operators to redesign the work organization are
neither easy nor always possible. Therefore, it is advisable to set up a method
that will support attempts at redesign in use - not only by justifying their
relevance to hierarchy, but also by supporting agents. The goal, then, is to
trigger the positive and sustainable factors of conversion identified at the
diagnosis stage, and notably to foster the emergence of a transverse collective.
To achieve this, a method of co-constructive analysis of work practices
may be used. This method aims to start off a debate between the vari-
ous professionals involved in the new organization - in this case, custom-
ers and suppliers. As for methods aiming to support reflective practices
(Mollo and Nascimento, this volume), the goal of co-constructive analysis
is twofold: first, to ensure an improved visibility of the work of others,
and second, to allow the construction of work practices that are accept-
able to all, in order to redesign the organization. This analysis is termed
constructive because it fulfils the following criteria ('golden rules'; Mollo
and Nascimento, this volume). It focuses on work activity, it is grounded
in the will of and in the attempts made by operators, it aims to develop
new organizational solutions, and it requires managerial support before it
can be implemented and operated sustainably.
The approach we propose is as follows. First, visits of work sites are
organized during which pairs of operators who usually interact remotely
are made to meet (obviously, this requires their prior agreement). The
operator being visited carries out the tasks of the day, while verbalizing
his or her activity and explaining his or her constraints, the difficulties
encountered, the criteria used, etc. The visiting operator observes the
activity and listens to the verbalizations it gives rise to. He or she may
intervene when desired to request further explanations or to provide
these explanations, etc. On another day, the situation is inverted. The vis-
ited operator becomes the visiting operator, and vice versa. The ergono-
mist is present and collects the exchanges between the operators.
Later on, the difficulties identified and the new practices that have
been considered must be debated within work groups involving the
operators who took part in this system, and more generally, the teams
involved, including the close hierarchy.
Co-constructive analysis of work practices combines several methods:
• A method consisting of producing verbal reports concurrently to
the activity (Ericsson and Simon, 1984; Leplat and Hoc, 1981). This
allows subjects to externalize the internal processes that are at work
during action. It makes visible the mental activities underlying sub-
jects' conducts. This elicitation work is useful both for the visited
operator and for the visiting operator, who becomes better able to
understand the activity and constraints of another.
