Abstract
Researchers and domain practitioners have identified macrocognition functions that characterize work in complex domains. These functions provide a broad conceptual lens to aid description and thematic analysis of overwhelming, messy, interrelated observational and interview data from cognitive field research. In this article, an integrated theoretical framework is proposed for five macrocognition functions: detecting problems, sensemaking, re-planning, deciding, and coordinating. An example of each function is provided, from observations during the 76th Space Shuttle (STS-76) mission.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hoffman RR, Yates JF (July/August, 2005) Decision(?)-Making(?). IEEE Int Syst 22–29
Hoffman RR, Norman DO, Vagners J (2009, May/June) Complex sociotechnical joint cognitive work systems? IEEE Int Syst 82–89
Klein G (2007a) Flexecution as a paradigm for replanning, part 1. IEEE Int Syst 22:79–83
Klein G (2007b) Flexecution, part 2: understanding and supporting flexible execution. IEEE Int Syst 22:108–112
Klein B (2010) Macrocognitive measures for evaluating cognitive work. In: Patterson ES, Miller J (eds) Macrocognition metrics and scenarios: design and evaluation for real-world teams. Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, pp 47–64
Klein G, Ross KG, Moon BM, Klein DE, Hoffman RR, Hollnagel E (2003) Macrocognition. IEEE Int Syst May/June:81–85
Patterson ES, Woods DD (2001) Shift changes, updates, and the on-call model in space shuttle mission control. Computer supported cooperative work. J Collab Computing 10(3–4):317–346
Patterson ES, Watts-Perotti J, Woods DD (1999) Voice loops as coordination aids in space shuttle mission control. Computer supported cooperative work. J Collab Computing 8(4):353–371
Patterson ES, Miller JE, Roth EM, Woods DD (2010). Macrocognition: where do we stand? In: Patterson ES, Miller J (eds) Macrocognition metrics and scenarios: design and evaluation for real-world teams. Ashgate Publishing, Farnham. ISBN 978-0-7546-7578-5
Watts-Perotti J, Woods DD (2007) How anomaly response is distributed across functionally distinct teams in space shuttle mission control. J Cogn Eng Decis Mak 1(4):405–433
Watts-Perotti J, Woods DD (2008) Cooperative advocacy: an approach for integrating diverse perspectives in anomaly response. Comput Support Coop Work 18(2–3):175–198
White H (1981) The Narrativization of Real Events. Crit Inq 7(4):793–798
Woods DD, Hollnagel E (2006) Joint cognitive systems: patterns in cognitive systems engineering. Taylor & Francis, UK
Acknowledgments
We thank Drs. David Woods, Gary Klein, Emilie Roth, and Nancy Cooke for a number of stimulating discussions about macrocognition and macrocognitive functions, from which many of the ideas presented in this article originated. A colleague, Dr. Jennifer Watts-Perotti, conducted ethnographic observations and interviews during the STS-76 mission and analyzed many of the examples described in this paper. Numerous colleagues also contributed to the elicitation and understanding of other examples used in prior versions of this paper, including David Woods, Marta Render, Richard Cook, Patricia Ebright, Stoney Trent, Martin Voshell, and Jennifer Watts-Perotti. This research was partially supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory (S110000012) and the Office of Naval Research (N00014-08-1-0676). The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of the air force or the navy.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patterson, E.S., Hoffman, R.R. Visualization framework of macrocognition functions. Cogn Tech Work 14, 221–227 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-011-0208-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-011-0208-1