An HPT Quick Reference Guide


What is HPT?

HPT Process (.pdf) or (.gif)

Non-Instructional Interventions

Instructional Interventions

The Future

References

Links

Non-Instructional Interventions


When people think of improving the performance of workers in a work setting, they often think providing training of some sort or another is the answer.  While some of HPT's origins come from the instructional design field, HPT offers so much more than just instructional interventions.  The following is a list of non-instructional interventions that Human Performance Technologists often incorporate into an overall performance solution for an organization:
  • Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS)

  • Workplace Design

  • Knowledge Management (KM)

  • Just-in-Time Support

  • Communities of Practice

  • Multimedia

  • Internet and Intranets

  • Corporate Culture changes

  • Process Re-engineering

  • Job Aids

These are some of the more common tools / solutions that can be utilized to improve workplace performance.  Let's take a look at a couple of these in more depth and understand how they work and why they would be appropriate in some cases.

 

Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS)

What is an EPSS? 

The Electronic version of Performance Support Systems are one of numerous tools  of the technology age that provide workers with almost instant access to information vital to do their jobs.  Nailing down exactly what an EPSS is turns out to be somewhat unclear, as it is a very new concept within the HPT field and it can have many different variations.  EPSSs are a result of the many technology changes in the past 2 decades. Check out this document for a definition and some examples of EPSSs used in business.

 

In this next example of Electronic Performance Support Systems, Sue Larke provides another variation of how to define EPSS.  She give some great case studies where EPSSs used as an HPT intervention provide information and knowledge to workers when and where they need it in order to improve their ability to do their jobs effectively.

More and more jobs are coming to rely on technology and as such, the more performance support systems are becoming technology-based.  When work needs require quick access of information, training is not always the answer, as it had been in the past.  EPSSs can be designed, in many cases, to give workers instant access to procedures, tables, charts, and other information the need to do their job efficiently and effectively without having to memorize the data.  This is especially helpful when the data is subject to change or requires calculation or other manipulation on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

Corporate Culture changes
How does Corporate Culture affect individual worker performance?  IN A BIG WAY!

It is possible that corporate culture has more effect on workplace performance than any other single factor.  Certainly corporate culture is pervasive, affecting most if not all workers in an area.  Culture can be localized, say within a department or division, or it can be organization-wide.

Understanding how corporate culture is impacting performance is very important, but can be quite elusive if not analyzed carefully.  Another aspect of HPT skills is the means and methods to get at the root of performance problems brought on by problems or inconsistencies within the culture of the organization.  Dan Tanguay provides an excellent illustration of how important this process of analysis is, how it can be accomplished, and how effective addressing such issues can be in his article on Cultural Analysis.

 

Culture within an organization has a huge impact on productivity, motivation, and teamwork.  When productivity problems exist, the HP professional looks at culture as one are of consideration.  Using the right tools and methods, if problems exist within the culture that are hindering performance, the HP professional can often help.  They can shed light on issues that may be impacting how employees feel about the company and themselves and how these affect their work accomplishments.

The following article by Linda Ackerman provides a good summary of how corporate culture influences productivity and accomplishment.  Two case studies are provided in the article that provide useful application of corporate culture changes being implemented. Corporate Culture

 

Much more could be said about analyzing, managing, and changing corporate culture to enhance worker morale, motivation, and thus performance.  The following website provides an interesting set of tools for the HP technologist to use to affect culture within an organization: http://www.durationsoftware.com/tools/culture.htm

 

Job Aids
What is a Job Aid?

According to Rossett and Gauier-Downes (1991), a Job Aid:

  • is a repository for information, processes, or perspectives
  • is external to the individual
  • supports work and activity
  • directs, guides, and enlightens performance

Donald Clark (2000) adds the following description of a job aid:

Job aids include anything that when added to the work situation improves job performance by guiding, facilitating, or reminding the performers in their accomplishment of job tasks. This method of providing an alternative to improving job performance opened the door to other interventions to changing job performance.

There is distinct overlap between job aids and performance support systems. There is also some degree of overlap as to whether job aids are used as instruction or non-instructional interventions.  Consider the following job aid game as an example if an instructional intervention, even while Stolovitch and Keeps (1999) consider job aids to be interventions of the non-instructional type.  Clearly, how the tool is used determines when and where it should be used.

Clark goes on to describe job aids as instructional interventions, stating that  "Job aids are considered instructional interventions because they also mediate knowledge and skills problems. However, job aids are not really intended to produce learning, as they are a substitute for learning. Learning that does occur as a result of using the job aid (surely considerable at times) is incidental."

One of the better reference sites to explain, illustrate, and provide practice on job aids can be found here.  Be sure to click on the "Jump to" menu and try out the "Job aid or Not" demo!

Another interesting reference on job aids is provided a student in the Department of Educational Technology Department of San Diego State University.

 

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