The
Case Analysis tool is important for making informed decisions in a specific
field of work. Combining research and analysis, it is similar to a trade study
which is often completed in my line of work for different types of systems or
products which may be integrated into the final product. In this way, the group
or individuals working on a specific project gain a deeper understanding of
what is required to complete the project.
Currently,
I work at a large defense contractor that produces helicopters. Working with
the United States government as a customer, we receive requests for products or
capabilities that may not have been done before. In a case such as this, a
trade study or case analysis would be completed to determine the availability
of the technology and the feasibility of the overall effort. However, the results
of the study determine if the effort will commence or if it is not
contractually possible to complete (i.e., not enough funds, not enough time in
the schedule, etc.). As a future Human Factors engineer, I would expect to use
or conduct case studies on multiple projects or platforms to assist in decision
making. This could include case studies that provide a greater depth of
knowledge for interface design or multifunction display designs. Researching
and understanding how the design of these displays may affect pilots’ or
operators’ cognitive workload is just one example.
My
recommendation for the Case Analysis would be regarding the format that is
required. First, it seems like the summary that is at the beginning of the
paper could be eliminated or moved to the end. In my opinion, it seems
excessive or redundant to provide an abstract which briefly summarizes the key
points and findings of the paper and then immediately provide a summary right
after. In addition, I think that the alternative actions and recommendations
sections could be combined or better thought out. I was a bit confused with
these as it seems there may be some overlap between the two. If the two were to
be combined, I would suggest adding a summary or conclusions section to the end
to recap the important points that were discussed.
