Presentation
MDD12 - HF Smarter, Not Harder: How to Transform Informal Work into Submission-Worthy Content
DescriptionAny product development process is inherently a lot of work and there are many required Human Factors (HF) activities that a manufacturer must complete, such as user research, known problems analysis, use-related risk analysis, formative evaluations, and HF validation tests. Additionally, that work must be formally documented and organized into a comprehensive HFE/UE report. But is this list of HF tasks as daunting as we think it is? Or are manufacturers conducting some of the HF work without realizing it? In some cases, manufacturers perform tasks that serve as inputs to formalized HF documentation without even realizing they’re completing HF-related activities.
One stigma around HF work is that it needs to be formally and intentionally planned, when in fact, many of these activities can be informal and might happen naturally through an instinctual product development process. For example, a manufacturer that conducts an internal design review might not realize that review can be considered an “expert review” that falls under a formative evaluation. Or a manufacturer who adds a few line items to their use-related risk analysis because they heard about issues with a competitor product in the news or knows about issues with a predicate from post-market surveillance might not realize that they’re inadvertently conducting part of a known problems analysis. Another example is scaling back research efforts, such as conducting user research and interviews with a limited number of participants to gain key inputs that impact design requirements and intended use. All these tasks can and should be considered formal HF work, even if not intended to be.
Drawing from direct experience, the presenters will share opportunities in which a manufacturer can leverage past work or seemingly unintentional or informal activities to streamline formal HF work and, ultimately, save on cost, time, and effort. They will establish the true, expansive “HF” definition and exemplify missed opportunities for documenting tasks as formal HF activities. Then, the presenters will walk through how to “take credit” for any informal or unintentional HF activities that were completed, providing a framework for how to best document these activities. They will also call attention to commonly missed opportunities with an emphasis on how to “HF smarter, not harder.”
One stigma around HF work is that it needs to be formally and intentionally planned, when in fact, many of these activities can be informal and might happen naturally through an instinctual product development process. For example, a manufacturer that conducts an internal design review might not realize that review can be considered an “expert review” that falls under a formative evaluation. Or a manufacturer who adds a few line items to their use-related risk analysis because they heard about issues with a competitor product in the news or knows about issues with a predicate from post-market surveillance might not realize that they’re inadvertently conducting part of a known problems analysis. Another example is scaling back research efforts, such as conducting user research and interviews with a limited number of participants to gain key inputs that impact design requirements and intended use. All these tasks can and should be considered formal HF work, even if not intended to be.
Drawing from direct experience, the presenters will share opportunities in which a manufacturer can leverage past work or seemingly unintentional or informal activities to streamline formal HF work and, ultimately, save on cost, time, and effort. They will establish the true, expansive “HF” definition and exemplify missed opportunities for documenting tasks as formal HF activities. Then, the presenters will walk through how to “take credit” for any informal or unintentional HF activities that were completed, providing a framework for how to best document these activities. They will also call attention to commonly missed opportunities with an emphasis on how to “HF smarter, not harder.”
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 254:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
LocationSalon C
Digital Health
Simulation and Education
Hospital Environments
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives