Is future workshop a useful tool in participatory ergonomics? : assessment among selected groups of cleaners, health care personnel and miners in northern part of Sweden

The focus of present study was to assess and describe Future Workshop method regarding usefulness as participatory ergonomics method, using a descriptive evaluation design analysed by phenomenographical approach. The study was conducted on workplaces of different characters, among professional cleaners, health care personnel and mining personnel. A sample of 81 employees participated in conducted workshops. 16 fellow workers and 8 foremen/women at actual workplaces were interviewed regarding conducted workshop’s impact on workplaces. Researchers own activities as workshop leader with documented observations, evaluation questionnaires to workshop participants, interviews and rating scales built a foundation of multiple methods giving the researcher beneficiaries from combining both qualitative and quantitative data. An involvement among participants was observed during workshops, with a majority of groups focusing on reality and action during strategy phase. Evaluation questionnaires at two occasions (immediately after FW and three months later) show strong relationship with high correlation, indicating that the perception of FW participants was still very positive towards the method. Interviews reveal conformity between developed problem identification and proposed changes, and interviewee’s own perspective, showing high accordance among fellow workers as well as foremen/women. Participants own perceptions of Future Workshops influence on creativity and action depicts their belief of further development of ideas and solutions in order to identify and solve workplace problems. This workshop method is considered to be a useful tool in ergonomics, and its qualities are addressed to structure and practical performance.Validerat; 20101217 (root