ABSTRACT

The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) uses the term 'function' as in the goals-means relation, where a function represents the means that are necessary to achieve a goal. Since the FRAM describes functions, it is important to be able to define when a function starts, and equally important, when it stops. The first step of the FRAM is to identify the functions that are needed for everyday work to succeed. The purpose is to describe in detail how something is done as an everyday activity, rather than to describe it as an overall task. Though an overall task sometimes can be described as a 'flat' sequence of sub-tasks or operations, a task analysis usually includes sub-tasks that are organised in ways ranging from simple combinations to complex task hierarchies. The Input to a function is traditionally defined as that which is used or transformed by the function to produce the output.