Automation Challenges of Socio-technical Systems

3 A Framework for Analysis of Shared Authority in Complex Socio-technical Systems

3.1. Introduction

This chapter aims to present a framework for systemic analysis of shared authority and responsibility in complex socio-technical systems. To achieve this, we will use the case study of the field of air traffic management (ATM) that we can consider as a complex socio-technical system within which humans and technical systems cooperate in an interacting manner. In such systems, human operators have different roles and are integrated in different organizational or geographical cultures. Nevertheless, all share the same final objective, which consists of making air transport safe and effective. To improve the overall performance of this socio-technical system, a new generation of air traffic management systems is currently being developed with a view to making air transport safe and operational at a global scale. One of the challenges involved in the design of these new systems relates to their complex, dynamic and highly interconnected nature. In addition, technical systems are destined to become highly automatized so as to provide a comprehensive approach to traffic management and at the same time assist human operators with completion of their tasks. To this end, changing the level of automation does not necessarily mean replacement of tasks allocated to humans in current air traffic management practices, but rather modification or elimination of certain tasks and at the same ...