Work and Technology on Human Terms

This course introduces you to the principles of human-centred design of work and technology and gives you knowledge about how workplaces, technologies and organizations can be developed on human terms. It draws on research and experience from Sweden’s leading technical universities and presents a holistic approach to work environment management that integrates physical, psychosocial, organizational and technical perspectives.

Developing work and technology that promote health, safety and efficiency remains a central challenge in industry – and demand is increasing due to rapid technological and social change. Through the concept of HTO – Human, Technology, and Organization – you will explore how these dimensions interact and how thoughtful design can prevent accidents and stress, improve productivity, and enhance quality of life at work.

Target audience: The course is designed for anyone who wants to contribute to a safer, healthier, and more effective working life – whether you are a student exploring studies in work environment and design, or a practitioner seeking to deepen your understanding of sustainable work systems. No prior technical background is required, but curiosity about how people and technology interact will help you get the most out of the course.  

Course content:

Across 14 chapters and multiple case studies, you will:

·                  Understand the HTO framework and its importance in creating well-functioning work systems.

·                  Identify and assess factors in the psychosocial work environment, including stress, leadership, teamwork, and organizational culture.

·                  Analyse physical load and ergonomics, learning how posture, movement, and tool design affect health and performance.

·                  Explore production organization, from classical theories such as Scientific Management to modern approaches like Lean and sociotechnical systems.

·                  Recognize environmental and physical factors – such as sound, light, climate, and chemical exposure – and how they influence comfort, safety, and productivity.

·                  Reflect on economic and societal perspectives, including how investments in work environment improvements contribute to sustainability and competitiveness.

Each module combines short video lectures, expert interviews, and interactive exercises with reading materials from the book Work and Technology on Human Terms. The course concludes with practical cases from different industries, illustrating how theory can be applied to real-world challenges. 

How the course will be conducted:

You can study at your own pace using any computer or device with internet access. Once registered, you’ll have access to videos, readings, quizzes, and self-reflection exercises. The course takes approximately 25 hours to complete. 

To pass the course you need to:

Completethemandatory quizzes, which partially involve basic computer simulation exercises inthe form of Jupyter notebooks, as well as participate in the four online meetings.This way you will assess the acquired knowledge and practice identifying the needfor and seeking further knowledge.