Advancing Post Mission Data Collection and Analysis Using a Sociotechnical System Design Approach

NPS NRP Executive SummaryProject Summary: Using a sociotechnical system (STS) approach, this research evaluated various aspects of post mission data collection and analysis for F/18 flight training events. The project principal investigator (PI) initially conducted in-person interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on this process. Using the interview responses, an initial STS process and variance analysis was performed, resulting in a set of system capability requirements. These requirements and an initial process model were provided to a seven- member team of Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) systems engineering distance learning students. For their capstone project, the team conducted their own stakeholder and pilot representative interviews and created additional process models and entity relationship diagrams. The capability requirements provided by the PI were included in their feasibility assessment of design alternatives they created. After ranking the design alternatives with a Pugh matrix, task completion times for the highest scoring alternatives were further evaluated using simulation software and statistical analysis, resulting in a recommended automated event detection configuration. The PI also interviewed four F/A-18 pilot instructors, and incorporated the data into updated variance, function allocation, and requirements analyses that integrated the previous results completed by the PI and the capstone team. The PI proposed a set of system performance requirements that reflected proposed training site workspaces containing recommended hardware, software, and personnel configurations. These results are expected to be revisited in the planned FY19 Naval Research Program (NRP) study to further explore the policy, environmental, and organizational impacts on the conduct of F/18 flight training events.NPS-18-N142-AApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited