Procedures need to guide an operator through a task, but how much detail is TOO much detail? Does the level of detail effect procedure compliance and if so, how? This project will provide those answers.
Farzan Sasangohar, PhD, of Texas A&M University will be investigating the impact of the level of procedure detail on operator performance.
The importance of proper procedures has become even more apparent with industry events over the last several decades, such as the fire/explosion at then BP’s Texas City Refinery. While procedures are seen as essential, the proper level of detail is open to interpretation. Understanding the impact of
procedure detail on performance would ensure maximum effectiveness with minimal number of steps.
- Does performance vary with the level of detail?
- Does that performance interact with the level of skill/knowledge of the user?
- What level of detail is best for different user populations?
Procedure development has been expanding at a rapid rate with the potential for delivery of the procedures to the users electronically. Most major process companies have various programs to either create electronic based procedures or transfer existing procedures into an electronic format.
For Phase One we will provide a written report of the project, detailing methodology and results. If statistically significant results were obtained, recommendations for the Phase Two study will be included.