1995/96: Kieran Duignan
Date of MSc: 1995/96
MSc Project Title:
Using Soft Systems Methodology to Elicit User Requirements for Adapting a Socio-technical System
Pre-MSc Background:
Counselling, career guidance, training research/development, sales
Pre-MSc View of HCI/Cognitive Ergonomics:
As an emergent domain in Cognitive Psychology
Post-MSc View of HCI/Cognitive Ergonomics:
As a buoyantly emergent domain in Cognitive Psychology with potential both for improving organisational performance and for being abused by managers, inclined to indulge the dark side of their power.
Subsequent-to-MSc View of HCI/Cognitive Ergonomics:
As a domain in social, economic and organisational behaviour with enormous potential for improvement and for exploitation.
Additional Reflections:
Teaching and academic supervision on the MSc (Ergonomics) in University College London 1995/6 introduced me to a robust approach to applied research. While it took me quite some time to figure out how to apply this approach in the sphere of work in which I have since concentrated – Safety Psychology and Ergonomics.
The course was a positively transformative experience beyond my expectations, by virtue of the quality of teaching and generous supervision, formal and informal, in the ‘learning community,’ facilitated by so many inspiring staff.
Inclusiveness remains another marked feature of the course for me: 15 years before The Equality Act 2010, diversity of several kinds was evident in the student group. I still smile when I recall the occasion of acute stress I experienced after I created a portrait with twelve flags for an end-of-term celebration and found myself very sharply challenged by a normally very placid and amiable fellow, who strongly objected to the inclusion of the national flag of one Middle Eastern country, while omitting that of his own. I quickly amended the portrait to include the thirteenth.
For the information (and amusement) of students from other years, the end of term celebration in question included the presentation to Professor Long of a certificate, which read as follows:
The Tri-cycles and HIC Unit 95/96 bestow on
Professor John Long
Master of the House
A certificate of Special Merit for his intellectual leadership and linguistic prowess –
That surpasseth all understanding.
The last phrase might ring a bell or two for many students. However, John assures me that the certificate, now framed, continues to have pride of place in his kitchen.