Whatever variation is used, several guidelines should be followed including not editing initial ideas (clarification is permissible), not criticizing submitted ideas, and an equal opportunity for each member to participate. Combining similar ideas and creating categories for ideas may be performed in the group setting or by leadership independent of the group. The results of any combining or categorizing should be shared with all.

A Study of the Contribution of Human Factors to Human-Machine System Failures in Dynamic Mission Operations——By Timothy A. Davis

Definition of Terms

This study applied a cognitive system view of the human-aircraft configuration by investigating dynamic mission-oriented operations requiring effective human-machine system interaction. For the purposes of this study, the following definitions applied: System. Kossia koff and Sweet (2003, 3) define a system as, ―a set of interrelated components working together toward some common objective.‖ Human-machine system, Specific focus was applied to ―human-machine systems‖ in this investigation. These systems were considered to be non-autonomous systems requiring human interaction to complete tasks or respond to unplanned system operating anomalies. Dynamic environment. The term ―dynamic‖ implies that the conditions under which the system operates change over time or orientation. A change in the external operating environment, a mission re-tasking, unpredictable operator system inputs, or system component failures are examples of possible ―dynamic‖ mission conditions. Failure severity. The following abbreviated definitions , presented in

OPNAVINST 3750.6R (2001), describe the severity categories utilized in

USN/USMC aircraft mishap investigations:

o Class A severity. A mishap in which the ,―total cost of damage to property or aircraft

exceeds $1,000,000, or a Naval aircraft is destroyed or missing, or any fatality or permanent total disability resulting from the direct involvement of a Naval aircraft.‖

o Class B severity. A mishap in which the ,―total cost of damage to property or aircraft is $200,000 or more, but less than $1,000,000, or a permanent partial disability or the hospitalization of three or more personnel results.‖

o Class C severity. A mishap in which the, ―total cost of damage to property of aircraft is $20,000 or more, but less than $200,000, or an injuryre quiring five or more lost workdays results‖ (DoN 2007, 3-10).

NOTE: Any event in which the ,―total cost of property or aircraft damage is less than $20,000 and there are no reportable injuries is not considered an aviation mishap. These events are reported as hazards‖(DoN 2007, 3-10).

Organization of the Study

The first chapter of this study introduces the subject matter that was investigated. This section includes a narrative of the background and purpose behind this study, a discussion of the research problem, a description of the significance and relevance of the investigation, and an explanation of both the general and specific questions that the study attempted to answer. Chapter 1 concludes by outlining the assumptions and limitations that bounded the conduct of this investigation. Chapter 2 presents a review of the literature relevant to the study to include material pertaining to the subject, purpose, and variables encountered in this investigation. Specifically, this chapter examines the current state of research in the areas of human error and human error