The Multitasking Myth: Handling Complexity in Real-World Operations

By Loukia D. Loukopoulos, Emmanuel Barshi, R. Key Dismukes, et al.

Book Overview

Despite growing concern with the effects of concurrent task demands on human performance, and research demonstrating that these demands are associated with vulnerability to error, so far there has been only limited research into the nature and range of concurrent task demands in real-world settings. This book presents a set of NASA studies that characterize the nature of concurrent task demands confronting airline flight crews in routine operations, as opposed to emergency situations. The authors analyze these demands in light of what is known about cognitive processes, particularly those of attention and memory, with the focus upon inadvertent omissions of intended actions by skilled pilots.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0754673820
• ISBN13: 9780754673828
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 202 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Concurrent Task Management for the 21st Century - The Whys and Hows

Ashgate Studies in Human Factors for Flight Operations has released the latest title in a continuing series, The Multitasking Myth: Handling Complexity in Real World Operations by Dr. Key Dismukes, Dr. Loukia Loukopoulos and Dr. Immanuel Barshi. The authors discuss the results of recent research that delves into the performance of crews in dynamic environments and explores why even skilled crews can make mistakes when multitasking. Part of the problem is defined as gaps that exist between the ideal environment that is defined by flight operations policies and procedures, and the reality of complex and variable operations. The scientists, drawing from extensive experience gained as aerospace human factors researchers at NASA Ames, drill down into several critical phases of flight that include taxi, descent, approach and landing. During the course of their applied research they looked for markers that identified problem areas, and conducted analysis of concurrent task management and crew responses during these situations. What they discovered is that humans are not nearly as good at multitasking as previously assumed, and this should be taken into consideration when designing and conducting flight operation policy and procedures. On top of this, crews routinely underestimate their vulnerability to error. Timing of tasks and the character of a specific task also create unique memory and goal completion challenges for crews, and theses challenges can create safety significant issues when they are placed in the context of high tempo operations. Through the course of their research, four patterns of error were identified: 1) Interruptions and distractions, 2) tasks that cannot be executed in the normal practiced sequence of procedure, 3) Unanticipated new tasks and 4) multiple tasks that must be interleaved. The authors also offer areas to focus on error reduction: 1) Improving effectiveness of checklists and monitoring, 2) strategic management of task demands and 3) training and personal techniques One area that is critically examined is the cognitive aspect associated with processing multiple medias; crews can pay rapt attention to one stream of information at any given moment, while also attempting to manage other demands for attention. Novel situations require focused attention that is relatively slow, effortful and serial. If multiple streams of information compete at the wrong time, critical information or steps in a procedure can be missed, for example information on braking action or proper setting of flaps. These are the types of mistakes that are discovered during mishap investigations, and the goal here is to delve deeper into these cognitive aspects and apply them to future cockpit operations to improve pilot performance. Once applied, the procedures can be measured to see if they had the desired effect and make further refinements as needed. This is addressed in the last section of the book, where examples of applied research at several

The Multitasking Myth

"The Multitasking Myth" will certainly become a standard text book for all individuals involved in the aircraft accident and incident investigation environment. This manuscript sheds very interesting light on areas in human interaction in the flying environment that have not been particularly well analyzed or discussed before. This is accomplished through unprecedented access to current flight deck operations in many different scenarios. I found Chapter 5 particularly insightful in how concurrent task demands and crew response are analyzed and as an aircraft accident investigator, this analysis gave me a unique perspective on how multitasking could effect flight crew in even the most routine flight operations. I wish to congratulate the authors on their simply superior research and I highly recommend this text to be present on the book shelves of all who are particularly interested or involved in the mutlitasking environment of the aviation world.

All myths fall

The Multitasking Myth clearly shows how vulnerable we all are. It is an easy read, even for non-experts in the field of flight operations, as it is full of real life observations. I believe it to be especially helpful to people who wish to get a better understanding of flight operations; in particular those investigating the causes of aircraft accidents. The book is divided into four main parts: The first, titled The Ideal, shows how manuals and simulator training can back up everything. In an ideal word everything is under control; as stated in the book, "tasks are linear, predictable and controllable". The second part, The Real, illustrates how different the real world is. A reader, such as I, has the chance to see, with the aid of jump seat observations, how complex flight operations are and how pilots manage this complex environment. In their normal day-to-day work, pilots have to deal with interruptions, unexpected tasks and many other factors. The third part, Analysis of Concurrent Task Demands and Crew Responses, highlights why mistakes are made. It gives the background leading up to these situations and explains how crews manage them, for the most part successfully. In most of the accident investigations in which I have taken part I could see each of the four typical situations detailed in the book. The authors go beyond mere theory and in the final part, The Research Applied, make proposals for improving the safety of flight operations. (I particularly identified with this section as it is the area I work in, namely flight operation safety). Their work involved lengthy and detailed research and collaboration with operators, manufacturers, engineering department, etc... The result is a proposed set of new procedures which have been shown to give very good results. To sum up, I recommend this book to all those involved in flight operations. In particular it will ensure pilots are more aware of how vulnerable they are and it will make them more alert. It will enable airline managers to better understand the complex environment of flight operations and help them develop strategies to prevent mistakes. Authorities will benefit from the book as it emphasizes the need to improve procedures and training, and it will encourage them to fit training and procedures to the real world. Lastly, accident investigators will gain a greater understanding of why mistakes occur, and it will help them in their endeavours to get ever greater flight operation safety. Almudena Pérez Aeronautical Engineer Accident investigator Air Accidents Investigation Board of Spain

Science Gets Real

In The Multitasking Myth, we have a book that recognizes the challenges of high-tech, high risk operations in a world that demands near perfection. Using graphic examples from commercial airline operations, the authors show us where the problems lie, how to think about them, and what to do about them. In modern technical society, pilots, doctors, nuclear plant operators - as well as automobile drivers, cell phone callers, and listeners to recorded music - spend much of their time managing complex user interfaces, displays, controls, and automation systems. Information bombards the person at the controls or keyboard. We are often trying to do more than one thing at a time (multitasking) because there are so many controls, devices, and information streams at our disposal and demanding our attention. In most domains and activities the high-tech equipment helps us to be more productive. In those having extremely adverse consequences for errors and failures, such as commercial aviation and medicine, the equipment has generally allowed us to operate more safely, as well. That's the good news. However, The Multitasking Myth brings us the difficult news that goes along with it: the complexity of today's tasks and devices also introduce new sources of error and failure when they conflict with the inherent ways in which the human mind processes information. Indeed, we cannot change human cognitive limitations and vulnerabilities, so when our machines - and the procedures we use to operate them - don't match our minds, it is the machines and procedures that have to change. When the consequences of failure are severe, performance must be nearly perfect and the tasks absolutely have to match what the human can reliably do. In recent years operations in many high risk endeavors have been largely proceduralized. Airline flights, for example, go along the lines of pre-planned, script-like standard operating procedures (SOPs). Every flight is different, but in most cases pilots can handle the situations that arise with the guidance of SOPs that the aircraft manufacturers and airlines have established for normal flight procedures as well as abnormal and emergency procedures. Pilots are authorized to deviate from SOPs when needed, and they sometimes find themselves in situations for which there is no SOP. Without the guidance of an SOP, they are required to make choices that may amount to improvising under time pressure - leaving the comfort of highly trained and habitual routines, and the charted waters of pre-considered and vetted contingencies. Airline SOPs are developed carefully and pilots are well trained in executing flights in accordance with them. The SOPs look excellent on paper and work very well, generally, in the flight simulators used to train pilots (and also used to test-fly the SOPs). Multitasking Myth shows, however, that the real world is much messier. The authors take us deep into airline SOPs and show why they can fai