Re: Assessing HF programs

TRACY S. DAY (tmday_at_leading.net)
Sun, 2 Aug 1998 09:54:32 -0400


David,
I agree with what you are saying and I thought that I addressed that in my
email. The study I conducted was based on limited funding ($0 ). The most
objective free information available to assess the ACT program. The title
of the study is " The impact ACT has had on P-3 mission effectiveness."
This is because the guiding instruction names mission effectiveness as its
objective. If funds were available I agree the best evaluation would be
objective analysis using a system such as the Computer Aided Debrief System
to mark errors and then analyze them in debrief. We do not have the ability
to record simulators with audio and video. However, I would say that with
the assessment I did that with a t-test and a rejection of a null hypothesis
(hat the objective weapon drop data was equal) that you have evidence that
since the inception of the ACT program crews mission effectiveness has gone
up (the means were higher). This was at a p value of 0.05. The fact that
there may have been other influences that increased mission effectiveness is
true and I addressed those in the paper. I will be finished with it this
month and will try to post it here. I totally agree that mission success
does not necessarily equal good CRM but it was a viable measure available to
me. If you have more questions feel free to cal me also at work (904)
542-4134 or DSN 942-4134.
Tracy
-----Original Message-----
From: ROGERS, DAVID G. (JSC-DT) <david.g.rogers1_at_jsc.nasa.gov>
To: 'crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu' <crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu>
Date: Friday, July 31, 1998 2:05 PM
Subject: RE: Assessing HF programs

>
>Tracy et.al.
> I commend you on your scientific approach and efforts with respect
>to CRM and its impact on the U.S. Naval Service. Having come from the U.
S.
>Navy myself I agree that it has been a great resource for flight crews. I
>do, however disagree with two points. Having been an ACT Instructor
myself,
>the program in the mid 1990's did in fact embrace the goal of eliminating
>human error. I understand this goal, however, I was always skeptical as to
>the ability to do just that(error elimination). The program did not take
the
>approach of error management which has recently become a more widely
>accepted framework.
>The other point is that I disagree that mission success is the only data
>point to be used to assess a CRM program. I can give you a few examples in
>the Space Shuttle operational arena were all mission objectives were
>completed above expectation and there were major CRM flaws present. Many
>more examples can given within the training environment. The mere fact
that
>one received CRM/ACT training does not guarantee mission success.
>Conversely, mission success does not always imply that the most effective
>CRM practices were used. What I do believe is that the more one is exposed
>to ACT training the more likely one applies its concepts into the cockpit.
>The success and effectiveness of a CRM/ACT program largely depends on how
>pervasive the concepts are embedded within an organization's culture. I
>believe the observable skills are the best measure of a programs success
and
>not necessarily mission success. We in the Space Flight Training world
>challenge shuttle crews to critique crew performance with respect to the
>crew processes and not just on the technical outcome. If during a
>simulation a crew performs an fuel cell shutdown on the wrong fuel cell and
>successfully recovers and safely lands the vehicle, the mission may have
>been successful yet major CRM issues may be present. What process lead to
>the mistake or simply put why was the incorrect fuel cell shutdown?
>Communication, Situational Awareness, Crew coordination may be the problem.
>
>Just food for thought
>
>David Rogers
>Guidance & Control/Propulsion Instructor
>Space Flight Training Division
>Mission Operations Directorate
>Johnson Space Center
>Houston, TX
>281-244-7354
>> ----------
>> From: TRACY S. DAY[SMTP:tmday_at_leading.net]
>> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 1998 5:32 PM
>> To: crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu
>> Subject: Re: Assessing HF programs
>>
>>
>> Lt Col Kern,
>> ACT in the military is meant to be a tool to increase mission
>> effectiveness.
>> This is mostly done by eliminating human error (human factors). In a
>> recent
>> study I completed I used weapon drop accuracy as a measure of mission
>> effectiveness for a multi-crew aircraft the P-3. I used paired t-test to
>> compare the drops of ACT trained crews to non-ACT crews and found a
>> significant difference with a 95% confidence level that yielded a higher
>> mean for the ACT trained crews. Assessing human factors must use some
>> measureable trait and mission sucess is only one. A more detailed and
>> costly approach would measure the amount of error reduction created by a
>> training program. One tool that can help accomplish this is CADS a
>> computer
>> aided debrief system (developed by ERAU labs and Airborne Data
>> technologies)
>> that allows digital audio and video of the simulator to be recorded along
>> with abiltiy to use a hand held computer to mark error times and the type
>> of
>> error for feedback during debrief. A program that would allow an outside
>> contractor to measure effectiveness through a system like CADS would be a
>> more objective and detailed review. My graduate research paper will be
>> complete by the middle of Aug and if you would like a copy to see how I
>> evaluated the P-3 ACT program I can probably email it to you.
>> V/R
>> LT Tracy Day
>> VP-30 ACT program manager
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Lt Col Tony T. Kern, X-3230 <KernTT.DFH.USAFA_at_usafa.af.mil>
>> To: crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu <crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu>
>> Date: Thursday, July 30, 1998 10:41 AM
>> Subject: Assessing HF programs
>>
>>
>> >
>> >Collegues
>> > I have undertaken (been tasked) to develop a model for evaluating
>> >"human factors training courses" (whatever that means). My early
>> >research indicates that most organizations -- if they dare to assess at
>> >all -- currently use safety stats and student satisfaction to gauge the
>> >effectiveness (whatever that means) of their programs. For reasons that
>> >are obvious to this group, these criteria are inadequate. My task is
to
>> >develop a tool that an "outside assessor" (whatever that means) can use
>> >to evaluate a contractor delivered training program. I have four
>> >questions for the group.
>> >1. What measures (other than student satisfaction and safety stats) are
>> >used in your programs to assess program effectiveness?
>> >2. What, other than safety, are the goals and objectives of an HF
>> >training program?
>> >3. What other tools might one consider for assessing HF program
>> >effectiveness?
>> >4. What other research has been done in this area?
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > Tony
>> >2. How do you feel about an outside assessor evaluating your program
>> >with a standardized tool?
>> >
>>
>