Human performance technology
Encyclopedia
Human Performance Technology (HPT), also known as Human Performance Improvement (HPI), "uses a wide range of interventions that are drawn from many other disciplines, including total quality management, process improvement, behavioral psychology, instructional systems design, organizational development, and human resources management" (ISPI, 2007).
HPT is a systematic approach to improving individual and organizational performance (Pershing, 2006). HPT is a field of study which is related to Process Improvement, Six Sigma
, Lean Six Sigma
, Organization Development
, Motivation
, Instructional technology
, Human Factors
, learning
, performance support systems, knowledge management
, and training
, and is focused on improving performance at the organization, process and individual performer levels.
HPT stresses a rigorous analysis of the requirements of organization, process and human performance for new design and/or identifying the causes for performance gaps, and attempts to provide new designs and/or solutions to improve and sustain performance, and finally - to evaluate the results against the requirements.
and instructional technology
. The term technology is one of the foundational ideas in the field. In application, the word technology refers to applied science. A common misunderstanding is to define technology as media (such as the Internet and Personal Computers).
Another foundational idea of the field comes from Philosophy, in particular epistemology. In short, how can we know the pertinent reality of a situation. Is a human performance problem due to (or best remediated by) an intervention from just one perspective (such as learning). Human Performance Technology has emerged as a field designed to lead practitioners to critically analyse and prescribe, influence business leaders, and develop interventions that are best suited to the performance problem presented.
HPT evolved as a systemic and systematic approach to address complex types of performance issues and to assist in the proper diagnosis and implementation of solutions to close performance gaps among individuals.
The origin of HPT traces mainly to the work of Thomas Gilbert
, Geary Rummler, Karen Brethower, Roger Kaufman
and Joe Harless. They (Gilbert in particular) were the pioneers of the field. Any serious investigation of early and later citations of Gilbert's work will reveal subsequent academic and professional leaders in the field.
HPT professionals work in many different performance settings such as corporate settings, educational institutions, and the military (Bolin, 2007).
The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) defines Performance Improvement as "the process of identifying and analyzing important organizational and individual performance gaps, planning for future performance improvement, designing and developing cost-effective and ethically justifiable interventions to close performance gaps, implementing the interventions, and evaluating the financial and non-financial results."
A 2003–04 Task Force of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) updated the definition of Human Performance Technology in a March 31, 2004 Report to the ISPI Board:
HPT Definition and Criteria Human Performance Technology – An integrated systems approach to improving human performance:
Assumptions:
HPT can become the leverage organizations need to increase improved performance and focus on results using a variety of means and methods.
The International Society for Performance Improvement has defined ethical standards for professional practice of HPT at http://www.ispi.org/content.aspx?id=418
HPT is a systematic approach to improving individual and organizational performance (Pershing, 2006). HPT is a field of study which is related to Process Improvement, Six Sigma
Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a business management strategy originally developed by Motorola, USA in 1986. , it is widely used in many sectors of industry.Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects and minimizing variability in manufacturing and...
, Lean Six Sigma
Lean Six Sigma
In recent years, some practitioners have combined Six Sigma ideas with lean manufacturing to yield a methodology named Lean Six Sigma. Lean manufacturing – addressing process flow and waste issues – and Six Sigma, with its focus on variation and design, are viewed as complementary disciplines in...
, Organization Development
Organization development
Organization development is a new term which means a conceptual, organization-wide effort to increase an organization's effectiveness and viability...
, Motivation
Motivation
Motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic. The term is generally used for humans but it can also be used to describe the causes for animal behavior as well. This article refers to human motivation...
, Instructional technology
Instructional technology
In education, instructional technology is "the theory and practice ofdesign, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning," according to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Definitions and Terminology Committee...
, Human Factors
Human factors
Human factors science or human factors technologies is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, engineering, industrial design, statistics, operations research and anthropometry...
, learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
, performance support systems, knowledge management
Knowledge management
Knowledge management comprises a range of strategies and practices used in an organization to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of insights and experiences...
, and training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
, and is focused on improving performance at the organization, process and individual performer levels.
HPT stresses a rigorous analysis of the requirements of organization, process and human performance for new design and/or identifying the causes for performance gaps, and attempts to provide new designs and/or solutions to improve and sustain performance, and finally - to evaluate the results against the requirements.
History of HPT
HPT grew out of the fields of educational technologyEducational technology
Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and...
and instructional technology
Instructional technology
In education, instructional technology is "the theory and practice ofdesign, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning," according to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Definitions and Terminology Committee...
. The term technology is one of the foundational ideas in the field. In application, the word technology refers to applied science. A common misunderstanding is to define technology as media (such as the Internet and Personal Computers).
Another foundational idea of the field comes from Philosophy, in particular epistemology. In short, how can we know the pertinent reality of a situation. Is a human performance problem due to (or best remediated by) an intervention from just one perspective (such as learning). Human Performance Technology has emerged as a field designed to lead practitioners to critically analyse and prescribe, influence business leaders, and develop interventions that are best suited to the performance problem presented.
HPT evolved as a systemic and systematic approach to address complex types of performance issues and to assist in the proper diagnosis and implementation of solutions to close performance gaps among individuals.
The origin of HPT traces mainly to the work of Thomas Gilbert
Thomas Gilbert (engineer)
Thomas F. Gilbert was a psychologist who is often known as the founder of the field of performance technology, also known as Human Performance Technology . Gilbert himself coined and used the term Performance Engineering. Gilbert applied his understanding of behavioral psychology to improve human...
, Geary Rummler, Karen Brethower, Roger Kaufman
Roger Kaufman
Roger Kaufman, Ph.D. is an influential figure in the history of the educational technology and performance improvement fields as well as strategic thinking and planning for public- and private-sector organizations. Regarded as one of the founding figures of the field, he is referred to as the...
and Joe Harless. They (Gilbert in particular) were the pioneers of the field. Any serious investigation of early and later citations of Gilbert's work will reveal subsequent academic and professional leaders in the field.
HPT professionals work in many different performance settings such as corporate settings, educational institutions, and the military (Bolin, 2007).
Definitions of the field
Because the field is relatively new, there have been a lot of attempts to define the theory that supports it as a field of professional practice. This section describes some of the definitions that have been provided thus far.The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) defines Performance Improvement as "the process of identifying and analyzing important organizational and individual performance gaps, planning for future performance improvement, designing and developing cost-effective and ethically justifiable interventions to close performance gaps, implementing the interventions, and evaluating the financial and non-financial results."
A 2003–04 Task Force of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) updated the definition of Human Performance Technology in a March 31, 2004 Report to the ISPI Board:
HPT Definition and Criteria Human Performance Technology – An integrated systems approach to improving human performance:
Criteria to judge applications of HPT
- Is focused on scientific research-based evidence that guide decision making for optimal outcomes ;
- Considers the larger system;
- Provides valid and reliable measures of the effectiveness of HPT interventions;
- Clearly supports the application of HPT interventions that are grounded in prior research or empirical evidence (or are not discouraged by either one). Repeatable HPT success is a hallmark of technology and a foundation of HPT. Conditions vary so it is the expertise of the HPT to research, adapt, and apply.
Assumptions:
- A technology is a set of empirical and scientific principles and their application
- Human performance technology is the technology concerned with all variables which impact human performance
- All organizational processes and practices impact the production of valued results, whether positively or negatively and whether those results go measured or unmeasured, acknowledged or not. (Everything that an organization does affects what it accomplishes, whether or not the results are acknowledged or desirable.)
- The purpose of all organizations is the same: to create value for their stakeholders; this is accomplished by aligning all processes, practices, and resources to maximize the production of that value.
- We collaborate with and value the expertise of other disciplines; human performance technology becomes the integrator and multiplier.
HPT can become the leverage organizations need to increase improved performance and focus on results using a variety of means and methods.
The International Society for Performance Improvement has defined ethical standards for professional practice of HPT at http://www.ispi.org/content.aspx?id=418
Standards of practice
The International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) codified a series of standards in an effort to raise the quality of HPT practice:- Focus on Results
- Take a Systems View
- Add Value
- Utilize Partnerships
- Systematic Assessment of Need or Opportunity
- Systematic Cause Analysis
- Systematic Design
- Systematic Development
- Systematic Implementation
- Systematic Evaluation
See also
- Educational technologyEducational technologyEducational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and...
- Business Process ImprovementBusiness Process ImprovementBusiness Process Improvement is a systematic approach to help an organization optimize its underlying processes to achieve more efficient results. The methodology was first documented in H. James Harrington’s 1991 book Business Process Improvement. It is the methodology that both Process...
- Business Process ReengineeringBusiness process reengineeringBusiness process re-engineering is the analysis and design of workflows and processes within an organization.According to Davenport a business process is a set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined business outcome....
- instructional systems designInstructional designInstructional Design is the practice of creating "instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and...
- LeanLean-In business:* Lean Startup, how to start a company in a lean way* Lean manufacturing, process improvement discipline* Lean construction is a translation and adaption of lean manufacturing principles and practices to the end-to-end design and construction process...
- Organizational Development
- Process Improvement and Management (PI&M)Process Improvement and Management (PI&M)-Identify, analyze and improve the Key Processes:According to Rummler an organization is only as good as its processes. To be able to make the necessary changes in an organization, one needs to understand the key processes of the company. Rummler and Brache suggest a model for running a Process...
- Total Quality ManagementTotal Quality ManagementTotal quality management or TQM is an integrative philosophy of management for continuously improving the quality of products and processes....