Besides radically altering work, advances in automation and intelligent technologies have the potential to bring significant societal transformation. These transitional periods require an approach to analysis and design that goes beyond human-machine interaction in the workplace to consider the wider sociotechnical needs of envisioned work systems. The Sociotechnical Influences Space, an analytical tool motivated by Rasmussen's risk management model, promotes a holistic approach to the design of future systems, attending to societal needs and challenges, while still recognising the bottom-up push from emerging technologies. A study explores the concept and practical potential of the tool when applied to the analysis of a large-scale, 'real-world' problem, specifically the societal, governmental, regulatory, organisational, human, and technological factors of significance in mixed human-artificial agent workforces. Further research is needed to establish the feasibility of the tool in a range of application domains, the details of the method, and the value of the tool in design. Practitioner summary: Emerging automation and intelligent technologies are not only transforming workplaces, but may be harbingers of major societal change. A new analytical tool, the Sociotechnical Influences Space, is proposed to support organisations in taking a holistic approach to the incorporation of advanced technologies into workplaces and function allocation in mixed human-artificial agent teams.
Keywords: AcciMap; Sociotechnical systems; cognitive work analysis; function allocation; human-automation interaction.