The course-of-action research program : historical and conceptual landmarks

The “course of action” empirical and technological research program was developed in the field of ergonomics during the 1980s and 1990s. It was then extended to other fields of research and action beyond the boundaries of ergonomics. This contribution proposes an archeology of knowledge with the aim of gaining an understanding not only of the "course of action" research program (and its concreteness), but also of the notions/concepts/methods/models that it proposes for both analysis and design. By rapidly scanning both the history and the conceptual universe of the “course of action” research program, this article aims (1) to point out the main empirical and technological contributions of this program and the potential it still holds (for work/activity analysis and for design), and (2) to help to make sense of certain concepts and analytical notions by mentioning the context of their emergence and evolutions.