Is future workshop a useful tool in participatory ergonomics?: assessment among selected groups of cleaners, health care personnel and miners in northern part of Sweden

Abstract: The focus of present study was to assess and describe Future Workshop method
regarding usefulness as participatory ergonomics method, using a descriptive
evaluation design analysed by phenomenographical approach. The study was
conducted on workplaces of different characters, among professional
cleaners, health care personnel and mining personnel. A sample of 81
employees participated in conducted workshops. 16 fellow workers and 8
foremen/women at actual workplaces were interviewed regarding conducted
workshop’s impact on workplaces.

Researchers own activities as workshop leader with documented observations,
evaluation questionnaires to workshop participants, interviews and rating
scales built a foundation of multiple methods giving the researcher
beneficiaries from combining both qualitative and quantitative data.

An involvement among participants was observed during workshops, with a
majority of groups focusing on reality and action during strategy phase.
Evaluation questionnaires at two occasions (immediately after FW and three
months later) show strong relationship with high correlation, indicating
that the perception of FW participants was still very positive towards the
method. Interviews reveal conformity between developed problem
identification and proposed changes, and interviewee’s own perspective,
showing high accordance among fellow workers as well as foremen/women.
Participants own perceptions of Future Workshops influence on creativity and
action depicts their belief of further development of ideas and solutions in
order to identify and solve workplace problems.

This workshop method is considered to be a useful tool in ergonomics, and
its qualities are addressed to structure and practical performance.