Putting things into hierarchies is an essential technique to aid clear thinking and thus help us solve problems or organise things. This chapter differentiates between two types of hierarchies, which many people fail to appreciate and their thinking is the poorer for it.
Introduction
Characteristics of a Hierarchy
The Two Types of Hierarchy Decomposition
The System in a Hiearachy of Systems
This is an approach to design originating in Japan and arising out of Japan's implementation of quality techniques. It is the framework of an approach known as Quality Function Deployment, often abbreviated to QFD. It involves asking and answering the following three questions:
A way of writing down the answers provides a visual way of understanding the relationships between the design of the system and its purpose in terms of satisfying customers. The notation produces a diagram which looks like a House, thus the name.
All complex systems require either to interface with people or include people as an implicit part of them. Human Factors is a generic term which encompasses all aspects of this need to include considerations of the human being as a part of or an interface with the system. As a design process it involves understanding the problems likely to be faced by a user or maintainer and taking account of them in the design. It is also concerned, along with the ILS function, with identifying what other actions need to be put in hand such that appropriate persons are ready to operate the system when it becomes operational. Human Factors is one of a number of specialist disciplines which need to be integrated into the system design process.
Introduction
Workplace design
Provision of Hotel Facilities
Health and Safety Issues
Human Factor design trade-offs
Human Factor design as part of wider design
Human Characteristics and Capabilities (HCC)
HCC - Sensory characteristics and capabilities
HCC - Human Processing Capability
HCC - Factors affecting psychological state of user
HCC - Environmental Factors relevant to human factors
Human Factors Design and Management
Tailoring Human Factor assessments
Consequences and responsibilities for 'operator' errors
Checklist of Human Factors Topics
Life Cycle Issues
Concept
Feasibility
Acceptance
This chapter considers the methods and issues associated with Human Resource Management. This is not considered with the management of people in doing their jobs, which is adressed as a general management issue in a number of areas within this book, for example LEADERSHIP. It is concerned with organisational issues by which the organisation ensures that the right people and skills are available to work on projects or within the organisation.
Introduction
Organisation Human Resource Policy
Human Resource Planning
Staff Costs
Retaining and Redeploying Staff
Notes relating to Key Staff
Recruitment
Stages in a recruitment process
Assessment Methods/Tests
Contents of a Job Description
Notes on Interpreting CVs
Notes on Interviewing
Recruitment Checklist
Staff Redundancies and Dismissals
Staff Appraisals
Notes of Promotion
Gradings, Payment and Rewards
Employment Legislation
Maintaining Employee Contracts and General Information
Matching People to Jobs
Employee Relations
Who Is Responsible for Human Resource Management?
The Common Reality of Human Resource Management
What Human Resource Management Should be About
HR Management of Know-How experts
HR Management in the Virtual or Shamrock Organisation