Cognitive work is done together

It is important to agree on new working methods and experiments together. Today’s cognitive work involves collaboration: one’s own work affects the work of others, and the way in which others work affects how we succeed in our own work. Therefore, it is also essential that in expert work, in offices and in all cognitive work, cognitive ergonomics is nurtured together and discussed. New approaches should also be tried out in practice for, say, two to four weeks. Only in this way can you see if a new working method will benefit your work and improve the common work flow. After a trial period, you can decide together whether to continue in the same way or if the ground rules need to be modified.

Cognitive work constantly changes as workspaces, tools and work itself changes. This is why work must be constantly developed. What worked yesterday may not work today. What works today may no longer work tomorrow.

Cognitive ergonomics

Ergonomics means modifying work so that it flows well and promotes people’s health and safety. Cognitive ergonomics focuses on the cognitive aspects of work, such as the demands of perception, memory, learning, linguistic functions and decision-making, as well as cognitively demanding working conditions. Everyone can improve the cognitive ergonomics of their own work, thus reducing unnecessary cognitive strain, and facilitate the flow of work.

However, many good cognitive ergonomic practices are more effective when followed by the entire work community. The realization of good cognitive ergonomics often requires organizational ergonomics as support, in which working with information is facilitated by joint agreements and supervisor support. It is also essential that management is committed to effective and healthy cognitive work by providing a framework which enables this.

Brain strain test

Which of the following situations are you familiar with in your work? Please indicate below which situations apply at your workplace.

This manual offers a number of solutions for all of these situations, which have been developed and used at workplaces:

Distractions

Interruptions

Information overload