Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
conscious - one can realize the means of one's own action, when encoun-
tering failure or when, for one reason or another, the subject aims to know
the modes of operation adopted and their relationship with the results of
action. Thus, there is realization when the operator is faced with occupa-
tional obstacles. From this point of view, the role of the ergonomist can-
not be to erase all the difficulties from work. Instead, it will be to set up
work situations so that they incorporate, in a central position, 'enabling
constraints' (Davis and Sumara, 2007), i.e. constraints that allow the devel-
opment of gestures at work (Delgoulet and Vidal-Gomel, this volume). In
this situation, the variability of work situations can be considered a means
for realization and for the involvement of the operator's reflectivity. To
draw once again from the example of the deveining line in the production
of
foie gras
, the variability of livers can constitute a source of reflectivity
for the operator to elaborate an effective and efficient gesture - provided,
in particular, that in the design of the production line, the space-time rela-
tionship allows such gestural regulations. In practice, the operator can
activate a reflective activity through repetition, in order to identify parent
situations, variations, constants and variables in order to modify, develop
and adjust the gesture.
The work collective at the service of reflectivity:
Transmitting, capitalizing and putting gestures to work
A final dimension of gestures is the fact that they are rooted in a profes-
sional culture, which some authors have called a professional genre (Clot
and Faïta, 2000). Any trade comprises an inventory of know-how, iconic
techniques and forms of recognition of professional competence. The col-
lective is a bearer of this shared culture of the trade, and is also a cru-
cial resource for development. Although gestures can only be acquired
through personal experience, one seldom learns alone. The acquisition of
experience is facilitated by those who have already acquired this experi-
ence, and in this sense the collective constitutes a resource in the con-
struction of a gesture at work (Sigaut, 2009). In the learning of a gesture,
the collective passes on to its new members a shared experience of the
trade. From this point of view, debating the gestures of work is likely to
become a 'psychological instrument' at the service of the members of
the collective. By drawing upon obstacles to the activity and personal
inventiveness, these debating practices bear new prospects for realization
(Si mone t, 2011).
Discussion spaces focusing on action and ways of doing work are
needed. This entails that work situations should be designed in order to
allow the physical presence of a colleague at the workstation, and that
the instructions provided should also allow mutual aid between opera-
tors. This will allow the creation of a discussion space focusing on action
