Abstract
In domains such as nuclear power, industrialprocess control, and space shuttle missioncontrol, there is increased interest inreducing personnel during nominal operations. An essential element in maintaining safeoperations in high risk environments with this`on-call' organizational architecture is tounderstand how to bring called-in practitionersup to speed quickly during escalatingsituations. Targeted field observations wereconducted to investigate what it means toupdate a supervisory controller on the statusof a continuous, anomaly-driven process in acomplex, distributed environment. Sixteenshift changes, or handovers, at the NASAJohnson Space Center were observed during theSTS-76 Space Shuttle mission. The findingsfrom this observational study highlight theimportance of prior knowledge in the updatesand demonstrate how missing updates can leaveflight controllers vulnerable to beingunprepared. Implications for mitigating riskin the transition to `on-call' architecturesare discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benchekroun, H., B. Pavard and P. Salembier (1995): Design of Cooperative Systems in Complex Dynamic Environments. In J.-M. Hoc, P.C. Cacciabue and E. Hollnagel (eds.): Expertise and Technology: Cognition and Human-Computer Cooperation. Lawrence Erlbaum.
Brann, D.B., D.A. Thurman and C.M. Mitchell (1996): Human Interaction with Lights-out Automation: A Field Study. In Human Interaction with Complex Systems' 96. Dayton, OH.
Clark, H. and S. Brennan (1991): Grounding in Communication. In L. Resnick, J. Levine and S. Teasley (eds.): Socially Shared Cognition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Clark, H.H. (1992): Arenas of Language Use. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Grusenmeyer, C. (1995): Shared Functional Representation in Cooperative Tasks - The Example of Shift Changeover. International Journal of Human Factors in Manufacturing, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 163–176.
Heath, C. and P. Luff (2000): Technology in Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hollnagel, E., O. Pederson and J. Rasmussen (1981): Notes on Human Performance Analysis (Technical Report Riso-M-2285). Riso National Laboratory.
Hutchins, E. (1995): How a Cockpit Remembers Its Speed. Cognitive Science, vol. 19, pp. 265–288.
Johannesen, L., R. Cook and D. Woods (1994): Grounding Explanations in Evolving Diagnostic Situations (CSEL Report 1994-TR-03). The Ohio State University, Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory.
Jones, P.M. (1995): Cooperative Work in Mission Operations: Analysis and Implications for Computer Support. Computer Supported Cooperative Work, vol. 3, pp. 103–145.
Kerns, K., P.J. Smith, C.E. McCoy and J. Orasanu (1998): Ergonomic Issues in Air Traffic Management. In W. Marras and W. Karwowski (eds.): Handbook of Industrial Ergonomics. CRC Press.
Patterson, E.S. (1997): Coordination Across Shift Boundaries in Space Shuttle Mission Control (CSEL Report 1997-TR-01). The Ohio State University, Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory.
Patterson, E.S., D.D. Woods, N.B. Sarter and J. Watts-Perotti (1998): Patterns in Cooperative Cognition. COOP' 98, Third International Conference on the Design of Cooperative Systems. Cannes, France, 26-29 May, pp. 13–23.
Patterson, E.S., J. Watts-Perotti and D.D. Woods (1999): Voice Loops as Coordination Aids in Space Shuttle Mission Control. Computer Supported Cooperative Work: The Journal of Collaborative Computing, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 353–371.
Rochlin, G.I., T.R. La Porte and K.H. Roberts (1987): The Self-designing High-reliability Organization, Aircraft Carrier Flight Operations at Sea. Naval War College Review, Autumn, pp. 76–90.
Suchman, L. (1987): Plans and Situated Actions: The Problem of Human-Machine Communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thronesbery, C., K. Christoffersen and J. Malin (1999): Situation-oriented Displays of Space Shuttle Data. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 43rd Annual Meeting, September 27-October 1, Houston, TX, pp. 284–288.
Wegner, D., T. Giuliano and P. Hertel (1985): Cognitive Interdependence in Close Relationships. In W. Ickes (ed.): Compatible and Incompatible Relationships. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Woods, D.D. (1993): Process Tracing Methods for the Study of Cognition Outside of the Experimental Psychology Laboratory. In G. Klein, J. Orasanu and R. Calderwood (eds.): Decision Making in Action: Models and Methods. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Corporation.
Woods, D.D. and E.S. Patterson (2001): How Unexpected Events Produce an Escalation of Cognitive and Coordinative Demands. In P.A. Hancock and P.A. Desmond (eds.): Stress Workload and Fatigue. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, pp. 290–304.
Woods, D.D. (1994a): Cognitive Demands and Activities in Dynamic Fault Management: Abductive Reasoning and Disturbance Management. In N. Stanton (eds.), Human Factors in Alarm Design. Bristol, PA: Taylor and Francis.
Woods, D.D., L.J. Johannesen, R.I. Cook and N.B. Sarter (1994b): Behind Human Error: Cognitive Systems, Computers, and Hindsight. Dayton, OH: CSERIAC.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patterson, E.S., Woods, D.D. Shift Changes, Updates, and the On-Call Architecture in Space Shuttle Mission Control. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) 10, 317–346 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012705926828
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012705926828