I had no idea that people like Mr. Wallace are included in the world of instructional psychology and technology:
Human Performance Technologists are tasked with improving overall performance within an organization. They don’t simply focus on the impact of a learner’s ability to learn, but on the entire environment around the learner as well. They must take into consideration not only the learner and what skills and abilities they possess, but the processes and systems of the organization that might also affect performance–this can include anything from the lighting of the environment to how the person feels about those in authority.
My past work as a project manager in the field of software development dabbled in HPT. A large part of my job was to identify risk–to find and remove roadblocks to progress. I wasn’t only looking for lack of knowledge, but I was often required to “read between the lines” to discover if there were other risks involved to the project plan and deployment–are we doing things in the right order? Do we have a server on which to test the software? Do we have all the information necessary from the subject matter expert?
In learning about Human Performance Technology (HPT) I am finally able to better understand something I encountered at in the project management field but never quite understood–the “Six Sigma” philosophy. It appears that this philosophy is very much a human performance technology. It looks at more than training aspects, but all other aspects that affect production, especially in the field of manufacturing.
Becoming familiar with HPT has helped me to extend my narrow view of instructional technology. Until this point I haven’t been able to “think outside the classroom” but now I see IP&T has application across many fields.
