ABSTRACT
As well as being adapted for some particular work context, task analysis methods are employed for some well-defined practical purpose, such as the design of training or technology. This practical purpose drives the nature of the analysis. Shepherd (1995), discussing Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) as a framework within which particular techniques are applied, states that goals need only be decomposed into sub-goals when there is a practical reason to do so. Let us say that the purpose is design and the proposed technology is reasonably well defined. Some higher level goals will be clearly outside of the area of work to be supported and so can be left as they are. Others that are central to the work to be supported by the technology will be decomposed into sub-goals and sub-sub-goals.
