Introduction to Macroergonomics

According to Hendrick and Kleiner (2002), macroergonomics is “the subdiscipline of ergonomics that focuses on the design of the overall work system.  Conceptually, a top-down sociotechnical systems approach to the design of work systems and the carry-through of the overall work system characteristics to the microergonomic design of human-job, human-machine, and human-software interfaces to ensure that the entire work system is fully harmonized” (p. 394).  A work system consists of (1) personnel subsystem, (2) technological subsystem, (3) internal environment, (4) organization and management; and (5) external environment (Kleiner, 2008).

Hal W. Hendricks is considered the father of macroergonomics based on work he performed in the 1980s and 1990s, but its roots extend to research in sociotechnical systems theory from the 1940s and 1950s (Hendrick & Kleiner, 2002, p. 14).

Macroergonomic principles have been applied to a variety of industries, including:

• Aviation
• Construction
• Food
• High-Technology
• Manufacturing
• Petroleum
• Trucking

Interested readers are encouraged to review the following references to learn more about macroergonomics:

Hendrick, H.W., & Kleiner, B.M. (2002).  Macroergonomics: Theory, methods, and applications.  Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Haro, E., & Kleiner, B.M. (2006).  Macroergonomics as an organizational process for systems safety.  Applied Ergonomics, 39, 450-458.

Holden, R.J., Or, C.K.L., Alper, S.J., Rivera, A.J., & Karsh, B-T. (2008).  A change management framework for macroergonomic field research.  Applied Ergonomics, 39, 459-474.

Kleiner, B.M. (2004).  Macroergonomics as a large work-system transformation technology.  Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing, 14, 99-115.

Kleiner, B.M. (2008).  Macroergonomics: Work system analysis and design.  Human Factors, 50, 461-467.