Supporting cognitive work analysis with the Work Domain Analysis Workbench (WDAW)

Conceptual development in a new area of investigation can be slowed by the absence of appropriate instruments, or speeded by their presence. In this paper we argue that supporting software tools are needed if cognitive work analysis (CWA) is to come a viable approach to the design of interactive systems and interfaces. We present work in progress on the Work Domain Analysis Workbench (WDAW) and discuss conceptual issues that have emerged during development. WDAW is designed to support work domain analysis which provides the foundation for CWA.