Crossing the macro-micro divide in systems ergonomics

This paper attempts to further explore the concept of mesoergonomics and the implications this has for the use of the systems approach within ergonomics. The concept has been applied within the field of organisational behaviour to understand a wide variety of complex work contexts and the interaction between individual, group and organisational levels of analysis. More recently, researchers in human factors and ergonomics have similarly argued that there is a need for holistic, integrated accounts of the relationship between macro- and micro- system levels (Karsh, 2003). In order to go some way toward achieving this, we outline two case studies drawn from health care (infection control, electronic medical records) and analyze these using mesoergonomic constructs. The case studies are used to outline a set of steps towards a more general framework for mesoergonomic research.