I-TASK Tool

Ship-SHAPE Task Analysis (I-TASK)

STATUS: Currently Available

GENERAL OVERVIEW:
The Ship-SHAPE Automated Critical Task Analysis Tool (I-TASK), used in the Ship-SHAPE tool set, is based on requirements expressed in MIL-H-46855 and DI-H-7059 (critical task analysis). Task inventory and analysis is performed and reported during development and acquisition of military systems, equipment, and facilities to ensure effective man-machine and man-man interface design, to facilitate effective training program development and testing and evaluation, and to provide information for manning and workload studies. A database is established to house the task inventory output and task analysis data. According to MIL-H-46855B all critical tasks as well as tasks which may compromise safety or which show promise of improved efficiency are to be subjected to a task analysis.

APPROPRIATE USES:
To fulfill Task Analysis requirements as expressed in MIL-H-46855 and DI-H-7059 for critical task analysis.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
• Apple® Macintosh running Microsoft Office 98.
• IBM PC or Clone running Windows 98.

INPUTS REQUIRED:
The data elements are organized around the following functional headings:

GENERAL: Mission, Function, Task Name, Initiating Tasks, Concurrent Tasks, Successive Tasks, Task Frequency, Task Duration, Criticality, Allocation, Personnel Required/Specialty/Experience, Position, and Machine/System Element.

DISPLAY/DECISION: Decision Options, Decision Evaluation Process, Decision Reached, Information Requirements, Information Available, and Communication Requirements.

RESPONSE/CONTROL: Action Taken, Control Body Movements, Accuracy/Tolerance, Feedback, Tool/Equipment Requirements, Operator Interactions, and Performance Limitations/Time Constraints.

ERROR EFFECTS: Error, Error Indication, Error Consequences, Recovery Constraints

ENVIRONMENT/SAFETY/TRAINING: Environment/Workspace Requirements, Environment/Workspace Constraints, Hazards, Training Objectives, Skill Knowledge Requirements, and Job Performance Aids.

The I-TASK tool can utilize data from other Ship-SHAPE Tools: ROMAN and I-CAN.

PROCESSING TECHNIQUES: Data basing, report generation, standardization of task nomenclature.

OUTPUT: Task analysis data form the foundation for subsequent design/engineering studies/analyses. The I-TASK tool provides the analyst a mechanism for producing requirements documents, evaluation criteria design inputs etc. based on human factors considerations. The cost to develop a task analysis is reduced, because of the automation features integrated into I-TASK. Related analyses (and subsequent decisions) are more cohesive because the underlying data are consistent. The data are more accessible because of the search/retrieval and publishing features contained within I-TASK.

USES OF OUTPUT: I-TASK can also be utilized as a data source for:
o ROMAN - system functions; man/machine allocations and roles
o I-CAN- task inventories; high driver tasks

STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT:
Beta testing. Interested users are asked to contact
the POC.

VALIDATION: The Ship-SHAPE I-TASK tool was validated on the efforts to reduce manning on the Fast Sealift ship, Seawolf Fast Attack Nuclear Submarine, New SSN, Surface Combatant 21st Century (SC 21) ship, Autonomic ship, Arsenal ship, Smart Ship, DDG-51 ship, LSD-41 ship, LHA PRI-FLY, CVNs, CV air operations systems, CVX, CIC systems, engineering control/automated auxiliaries, waste management systems, reduced manning bridge, Integrated Survivability Management System, Total Ship Survivability Training System, and DDG-51 accommodation of women program.

COMMENTS: I-TASK results can be ported to the NETWORK tool or to the SIMWAM tool.