Group 15

Project Title: COGNITIVE ERGONOMIC

Lecturer: Dr. Donald Stephen

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i) Introduction

         

          Cognitive ergonomics is the field of study that focuses on how well a product can be used to match users cognitive abilities. It is based on knowledge of human perception, mental processing, and memory. It is a source of knowledge for developers to use as guidance to ensure good performance rather than being a design discipline. The first fields explored were nuclear power plants, air traffic control systems and therapeutic anesthetics. Those situations have complex environments. For example, where many controls and switches or many factors come into play and where an extraordinary focus is required to take decisions in situations that are potentially life-threatening. Several research in softer fields, including finance, office and leisure, have been performed over the years following. The concepts are transferable among these environments.

 

          The notion of domain is fundamental to cognitive ergonomics is a larger context in which the system must function, providing both limitations and opportunities for the system. In their interaction with the system in general. Example such as attention, perception errors, strategies, cognitive workload, the field also studies users competencies and limitations. It studies, in particular, their cognitive artifacts, as well as their cooperation with other actors to achieve their objectives. As a result, every cognitive ergonomic study is based on two theories which is a theory on domain and a theory on human knowledge implicit or explicit. Since cognitive ergonomics covers both fields with such immediate effect and addresses the connectivity of factors involved in usage scenarios, the design and use of a product can be ensured with these considerations in mind.

 

          In the development of complex high-tech or automated processes, cognitive ergonomics is particularly important. A cell phone interface with a poorly-designed model may not lead to a crash, but it may well annoy the consumer and lead to a company failure in the industry. Nevertheless, the poor interface layout of industrial automation systems can reduce production and performance or even lead to life-threatening accidents (Budnick & Michael, 2001). The practical purpose of cognitive ergonomics is to elucidate the nature of human abilities and limitations in information processing. This means that the specific goal is to improve work conditions and human performance, as well as safety and health, and to avoid human errors and unnecessary load and stress. These aspects need to be comprehensively studied in the context of work and other systems.

 

          In recent years, there has also been a trend to exploit the methods of neuroscience in the field of cognitive ergonomics. In-Ju Kim (2016) also explain, Cognitive Ergonomics aims to design work conditions and environments that enhance cognitive functioning and human performance at work, and as a consequence, improve productivity, safety, and health at work. With cognitive ergonomics in the industry, main purposes are largely focused on improving work functioning and reducing human errors. Safety and product quality improvements are the key concerns because workplaces with mechanization can result in increased operator decision making and monitoring requirements, which can increase the likelihood of human errors and accidents. (p.2)

 

In this case, google company is one of our main issue in cognitive ergonomics. Google have shown us how they manage their companies around the world, their performance always shows good achievement. We choose google because it is very common people use this search engine. No one able to compete with google search engine.

 

       Their work lifestyle is also different because the workers been provided with many free services such as free foods, free laundry, etc. That is how google treat his workers so they will get comfortable when they do their work. The environment of google company is very different from other company.

 

ii) Concept of Cognitive Ergonomic

           

          There are 3 types of ergonomic, first is Physical Ergonomic, Cognitive Ergonomic and Organizational Ergonomic. In this report we choose cognitive ergonomic that use in Google Company. According to Gordana Colovic (2011)  Cognitive ergonomic is perception, memory, thinking and mobility and the way they are affected by the interaction with the remains of the observed system are deals with mental processes. The most important aspects include mental effort, decision making, interaction with computers, human reliability and work stress. The main focuses of cognitive ergonomics on work activities is have an emphasized cognitive component such as calculation, decision-making, are in safety-critical environments are in a complex, changeable environment such as where tasks cannot be pre-decided. Cognitive Ergonomics also studies the competencies and limitations of users in their interaction with the system in general. Like  Example, attention, perception errors, strategies and cognitive workload.

           

          Cognition at work is a cognitive functions are subjected to their limits in the same way as the physical characteristics. However, the brain’s functional capacity limits are not visible and usually cannot be consciously recognized. Therefore, it is essential to apply reliable knowledge on these aspects of human characteristics in order that we can ensure that they are not overwhelmed at work. It is important to note that cognitive limitations will have a less significant impact on performance if the task at hand is learned to such a level that it becomes an automatized skill, since automatized processes do not burden the limited capacity of attention and working memory. Perception and attention at work, There are also many working conditions, such as poor lighting, that may impair a worker´s ability to perceive objects and to focus attention on relevant aspects. Good visual perception requires that the symbols are clearly noticeable. Like example, the size of a text is large enough and that there is adequate contrast between the symbols and the background.

         

          Thus good lighting conditions will increase the visibility and the impact of size and contrast. Like example, the most easily noticeable part of the various Google offices are the vibrant colours they contain. While the palette seems to have started with inspiration from Google’s logo, it has since been expanded to include any colour imaginable. Best practices of cognitive ergonomics include optimizing the size of symbols and text, contrast between objects and background, and lighting conditions. While the Mountain View Headquarters seems to outweigh all others in every aspect of play, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Google office that doesn’t encourage it to some degree. Google also emphasizes more comfortable talking space such as providing more casual space to provide comfort to its employees. Like example,  the key features of any Google space are the casual seating areas or third spaces. These spaces are essentially alternative workplaces that are not your desk. Oftentimes they are a small enough for 2-3 people, while others are build for 10-20  groups. In addition to providing discussion space, the Google Office also provides a cafe for its employees to enjoy their meals. I believe the goal is to encourage employees to work longer by keeping them on the office. It also can work to create a collaborative and connected company culture though the spontaneous interactions in the lunchroom.

 

          Concept or idea of Google office is an open plan to encourage collaborative collisions, Additional common areas such as coffee bars, cafeterias, lounge rooms and more. They also designed areas for more than one person, rather than single-occupancy. Even google office space look cool but there is a reason why they create the work place with full of convenience. Like example, If you look into any of Google’s offices you’ll always find some sort of play in action. Google Venice has a climbing wall, video gaming, while others have swimming, gyms, and even volleyball. This is important to reduce the stress rate that having by the employee to make sure they performed well in their job. Other than that, sit and worked together shows that within a workplace that encourage collaborative, working that productivity increases by 15%. Next, the concept of Google office also motivate the employees. The employees will get a free treatment and medicine if they are not well and they can have a vacation benefits and more. Other than, the googles company also motivate their employees by having a "150 feet food rule" to make sure their employees have the energy and make a good results od their works. No part of the office is more than 150 feet from food even the restaurant, coffee lounge of cafeteria, because the employees are courageous to snack more and most importantly inspire more.

 

iii) Applications Towards Improving Human Potentials

 

          We believe that the way that goggle company apply for they workers can be improve potential human in Malaysia. This is because google companies provide a wide range of facilities, instruction, work conditions that suit human needs. As proof that googles have become one of the richest companies in the world that has caused many people to want to work at their company because of their own standards. Hence, companies in Malaysia need to emulate how google companies maintain their performance standards, so companies in Malaysia can compete with overseas companies and also help people to be a potential person.  Because of that, we think google company can help human in improving potentials in improve human performance, safety and health, and avoid human error and unnecessary load and stress.

 

Improve Human Performance

     

          First of all, how google company can help improve human performance by providing Googleplex campus. Inside the Googleplex campus, they provides many facilities for their employees. For example, the google allows its employees to decorate their desk or office to give them more comfort. In addition, the google has been able to help improve human performance through the use of technology. This is because, in the Googleplex campus there are many state of the art technologies that can assist workers in their work. For example, doing editorial tasks, if a person has been doing the work over and over again will inevitably increase his skills gradually. This is due to his familiarity with the job or the use of the technology that makes him an expert in the field. Moreover, google company also improve human performance in working. This is because in google company have team human resources management that very good. So, this team help a lot in human performance because they help their worker by provide a training at google company. For an example, in implementing a training program, Google uses this approach to facilitate employees’ learning. Thus, the relational model optimizes relations among employees, while the results-oriented approach ensures that Google’s human resources are effective such as training in program design and in delivery, Google’s human resource management delivers training programs in various ways, such as discussions, simulations and on-the-job training.

 

 

Safety And Health

     

          Second, google company also help human in safety and health. This is because at google company they provide a health centre and many they have their own health centre that makes it easy for their employees to check their health. In addition, they also prioritize in safety and health in the workplace. for example, they provide a signage such as signs about hazards such wet floor, caution and danger signs, no entry signs, signs around dangers of hardware in a workplace. So, because of this signage it helps people to think that somewhere could cause them to get hurt. So indirectly the basic knowledge of this has always led them to be careful about what will happen to them. Other than that, they also provide a safe working practices. This is a method that google company use to outlining their workers how to perform a task with minimum risk to people, equipment, materials and processes. An example of this is WHS Training. Furthermore, they also have a café or canteen that provides a free meal for they worker that cooked by quality chefs who provide food according to the food pyramid, so  it makes easy for their employees to eat according to their body's needs and they also provide relaxation or exercise facilities such as a gym and gym instructor, swimming pool and others. Hence, it helps human to gain a knowledge to know how to maintain their health. Lastly, this is the way that google company do, to make sure they workers can enjoy and interact with other in the work place.
 

                                                                                                               

Avoid Human Error And Unnecessary Load And Stress

     

          Lastly, google company also help human in avoid human error and unnecessary load and stress. This is because in the way they provide are environment for they worker is flexible. For an example, they allows their employees to decorate their desk or office to give them more comfort and their also provide many facilities for reduce stress such as Glassdoor, food perk, goggle bicycle that use for free and other else. This showed that goggle company help they worker in choosing the most appropriate way to reduce stress.

After that, google company also provide a technology to avoid error and unnecessary load. For example, they use technology such as computer, tablets, handphone and other else to help them to do a work but before they use this technology, they had been instructed by the trainer in advance so that they would not make mistakes. Then, it will help human how to work with a machine that requires a good deal of expertise to use it and it will indirectly help the human brain develop better which makes us become more intelligent.

 

iv) Contributions Towards The Development Of Cognitive Science Practises In Malaysia          

 

          Ergonomics must ensure that its methods are available, usable and practically used. Most of our methods tend to be developed by academic researchers and published in scientific journals, books and conference proceedings. Ergonomic theory methods, unless applied, are of no real use. This paper outlines three essential restrictions on the practical application of this methods. To improve the effectiveness of in action, those involved in developing and using approaches need to consider these and other constraints.

Google has everything an employee would expect in terms of market capitalization from one of the largest companies in the United States bicycles and electric cars to get people to meetings, gaming centers, organic gardens and eco-friendly furnishings. Google wants to make life easier for its employees and is constantly searching for ways to improve their Googlers health, well-being and morale.                

         

          Since Google is one of the world's most well-known technology firms, it provides better job prospects to workers if they decide to leave the Googleplex. It also provides development within the organization, whether for middle management or management opportunities at a higher level. This is will gives some morale to the employees to encourage their passion to do more work and achieve the higher level in the Organisation. In Malaysia, there is still use the organization dividing three stage such CEO, middle and lower employees.

           

          Furthermore, Google offers one of the most innovative working environment cultures to its employees. Google is so obsessed with technology that it has laid out nine innovation standards. Google employees are encouraged to spend 20 percent of their time pursuing innovative ideas that they are passionate about. For the employees people tend to observe others, their actions, style, behaviour all and this tendency applies to both situations when we are surrounded by smart people, and when we are surrounded by less smart people. We observe their behaviour, slowly begin to feel relaxed in their company, and sometimes begin to behave like them subconsciously. So, if we remain surrounded by smart people, it will also have a greater chance of having a positive impact on our behaviour. So , it is quite good to applications these method to increase cognitive economics among Malaysian’s employee.

Besides, the most unique things that google provide is employees are free to bring their pets to work to help with morality. There are  concerns cognitive or mental development, where cognitive skills, practical learning, analytical skills and emotional regulation from having a pet and play with them. Cognitive skills of employee can be improved by improving analytical learning from their obsession with pet behaviour. Reflective learning is also correlated with emotional control in which children feel and learn how to respond to their actions and consider the emotional state of their pet. Some Googlers are also describe the ability to bring their pets to work keeps their energy levels high, as well as bringing joy to other staff. So this is can be such a tools for the workers in Malaysia that can be application for relaxing with playing with nature and living thing.

 

          As we know from this point, Google focuses heavily on the environment of the company and ensures that its workers are happy. The company also seeks to keep its employees happy by paying attention to their strengths and weaknesses. If an individual works in a very technical position but shows more marketing or sales strengths, they can switch to that field. In any scenario, instead of losing an employee, Google would prefer to keep their expertise and move them to another department where they will succeed. Therefore, the company's versatility and promotion is not unusual. This is also good approach from google to maintain their workers performance. Sometimes, there are workers and employee get bored in what their do. So they make some exchange department to the employee probably will gain their sprit to discover something new that maybe will be their professional department instead of the experience.

 

Conclusion

 

          In order to maintain a healthy life, it is necessary to apply ergonomics standards. We're going to have to spend a lot of time working, learning and more. While ergonomics is a relatively new field of research, it's gaining worldwide importance. More businesses are implementing policies on ergonomics. It's probably going to be mandatory one day. We have to think about how we work, our attitudes and habits. The time to learn and improve is always good. Ergonomics allows people to work more easily, reducing stress and injury arising from improper positioning and repetitive activities. As a better user we need to use ergonomics because it has a huge impact on our lives.

 

 

 

 

References

 

Gordana Colovic (2011). in Management of Technology Systems in Garment Industry. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/cognitive-ergonomics

Google Industry Study. (n.d.). Workplace Health and Safety. Retrieved from https://googleindustrystudy.weebly.com/workplace-health-and-safety.html

Jessica, L. (2017, January 28) Google’s HRM: Training, Performance Management, http://panmore.com/google-hrm-training-performance-management

Kim  IJ  (2016). Cognitive  Ergonomics  and  Its  Role  for  Industry  Safety  Enhancements.  J  Ergonomics  6:  e158.  doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000e158

Shushi,K.(2016, March). Benefits of heaving intelligent people around. Retrieved from   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-having-intelligent-people-around-sushil-kumar

Seth,R. (2019, May 3). 10 Great examples of Google’s compony culture. Retrieved from https://www.tinypulse.com/blog/10-great-examples-of-googles-company-culture