The Economics of Human Systems Integration

Fundamental Economic Principles, Methods, and Tools forAddressing Human Systems Integration Issues and Tradeoffs Human Systems Integration (HSI) is a new and fundamentalintegrating discipline designed to help move business andengineering cultures toward more human-centered systems.Integrating consideration of human abilities, limitations, andpreferences into engineering systems yields important cost andperformance benefits that otherwise would not have beenaccomplished. In order for this new discipline to be effective,however, a cultural change--starting with organizationalleadership--is often necessary. The Economics of Human Systems Integration explains thedifficulties underlying valuation of investments in people'straining and education, safety and health, and work productivity.It provides an overview of how the field of economics addressesthese difficulties, focusing on human issues associated withdesign, development, production, operations, maintenance, andsustainment of complex systems. The set of thought leaders recruited as contributors to thisvolume collectively provides a compelling set of data andprinciples for assessing the economic value of investing in people,not just in general but in specific investment situations. Theearly chapters provide the contexts for HSI and investmentanalysis, illustrating the enormous difference context makes in howissues are best framed and analyzed. A host of practical methodsand tools for investment valuation are then presented. Providedare: * A variety of real-world applications of economic analysisranging from military acquisition and automotive investment tohealthcare and high-tech investments in general, in both the U.S.and abroad * A range of economics-based methods and tools for cost analysis,cost-benefit analysis, and investment analysis, as well as sourcesof data for performing such analyses * Differing perspectives on economic decision-making, including arange of private sector points of view, as well as government andregulatory perspectives In addition, five real-world case studies illustrate how suchvaluations have been done and their major impacts on investmentdecisions. HSI professionals, systems engineers, and financeprofessionals who address investment analysis will appreciate thewide range of methods and real-life applications; seniorundergraduates and masters-level graduate students will find thisto be an excellent textbook that provides theory and supportspractice.