Analysis of synchronization constraints and associated errors in collective work environments

Abstract

This paper presents a framework of analysis of the requirements of synchronization and the associated errors in collective work environments. It proposes a formalism for describing the temporal relations that synchronization constraints take on in a work situation, giving special attention to the temporal information strategies used by the operators. A relational conception of time helps in understanding how the operators perceive, retain and utilize information to temporally co-ordinate their behaviours. An example application of the framework of analysis is developed for a situation of concrete work -anaesthesia- in the final section which concludes with the analysis of two cases of errors related to synchronization.