Factoring human factoring, in IBM

The authors have conducted an informal poll of their IBM human factors engineering peers, asking them about the organizational placement of their department and about how that placement facilitates or inhibits good human-factors engineering. The results of that poll are summarized. Also summarized are the pluses and minuses of the various organizational models, as perceived by the IBM employees. The authors then address organizational factors at levels higher than the department level. Finally, they offer a personal model of the perfect organization for maximizing usability of software, hardware, and information products