Cognitive Work Analysis practicality and limitations in complex control systems: a case of alarm handling

Cognitive Work Analysis is an approach to understand work in complex socio-technical environments. Despite the promising advantages of framing cognitive tasks within this model most of the published research is limited to first stages of CWA and developed an abstract understanding rather than tangible design recommendations. In this paper alarm handling in rail electrical control room was chosen as the case study which conducts CWA in order to understand its potential and limitations and to determine the challenges in doing so.