Making the Case for Investments in Human Effectiveness

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rouse, William B. | Boff, Kenneth R.

Affiliations: Enterprise Support Systems, Norcross, GA, USA | Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Ohio, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: W.B. Rouse, Enterprise Support Systems, 3295 River Exchange Drive, Suite 380, Norcross, GA 30092, USA; E-mail: brouse@ess-advisors.com

Abstract: Investments to enhance human effectiveness in complex systems are rife with several types of uncertainties, intangible benefits, multiple stakeholders, and inherent unpredictability.  These characteristics make cost/benefit analyses for such systems a considerable challenge.  This article addresses this challenge by first reviewing alternative frameworks for cost/benefit analysis and then proposing an overall methodology for situations with these characteristics.  Use of the methodology is illustrated by its application in three investment problems that involve technologies for aiding, training, and assuring the health and safety of personnel in military systems.

Journal: Information, Knowledge, Systems Management, vol. 1, no. 3-4, pp. 225-247, 1999