TASK DECOMPOSITION AND ALLOCATION PROBLEMS AND DISCRETE-EVENT SYSTEMS

The decomposition of tasks and the problems of allocating them to huma ns and machines in complex systems is discussed from three perspective s: systems engineering as manifested in the design of flexible manufac turing systems, organization design as applied to decision-making team s that monitor and control engineering systems, and cognitive ergonomi cs. The limitations of fixed task allocations are discussed and the ca se is made for integrated experimental and theoretical investigations that address the dynamic aspects of task allocation.