Although the dimensions are laid out in a certain order, employing them in actual
projects follows no fixed sequence. Because of the interdependence among the
dimensions, a researcher moves from one dimension to another in an iterative
process. The path of this movement is determined by the particular problem at
hand and also by pragmatic considerations.
From the perspective of information seeking, one may interpret Figure 1 in a
distinct way. Suppose one wishes to analyse information seeking behaviour of a
group of people (rather than design an information system). Information seeking
behaviour manifests itself by the strategies that people employ (see Figure 1),
that is, the methods they use to find information. Clearly, a host of factors
external to the behaviour itself influence the selection of strategies. In the
systems approach terminology, such factors are called constraints, factors that
affect information behaviour, but cannot be changed by it (Churchman, 1979).
The dimensions presented by Cognitive Work Analysis represent the constraints
on information seeking, starting with the external environment of the work place
to the individual resources and values of the actor. Each dimension creates the
constraint for the one nested in it. Thus, the work environment affects how a
work place is operating, and this mode of operation shapes the task that an actor
performs. The task, in turn, affects the decisions that an actor makes, and these
decisions influence seeking behaviour. In addition, the actor's characteristics
have an effect on seeking behaviour and so does the social organization of the
work place. Cognitive Work Analysis assumes that while one can describe
information behaviour without taking these constraints into account, the best way
to analyseinformation behaviour is through an in-depth analysis of these
constraints. Work analysis is, therefore, an analysis of the constraints that shape
information seeking behaviour.