Domains

The Role of Domains in HFES Governance
By Anthony D. Andre, Internal Affairs Domain Leader

     Periodically, the HFES Executive Council examines the Society's governance structure in an effort to improve our organizational effectiveness through enhancing communication among the Council and our many committees. In 2006, the Council approved a structure proposed by Past President Waldemar Karwowski based on domains (replacing the former structure, based on subcouncils), each encompassing major activity areas: Internal Affairs (Anthony D. Andre, leader), Outreach (Deborah A. Boehm-Davis, leader), HFES Institute (Bruce Bradtmiller, leader), Meetings (Philip J. Smith, leader), and Scientific Communications and Publications (Kermit G. Davis, leader). Domain leaders are appointed by the HFES president (with advice and consent from Executive Council) and nominally serve a three year term.

     The domains have been evolving since their establishment three years ago and have largely succeeded in their aims to ensure that important committee activities are carried out and that information flows efficiently between committees and Council. In this article, I briefly describe the current state of the domains.

     Under the domain structure, the five domain leaders manage both near-term strategic and tactical issues related to their respective committees and to their domains as a whole, the committees engage in day-to-day tactical activities, and HFES staff handles operations. In addition to supervising the committees within each domain, domain leaders establish new initiatives related to their domains and participate in Executive Council meetings. This structure allows Executive Council to better and more efficiently manage the Society and to focus its efforts on long-term strategic issues.

     Below is an introduction to each domain, the committees within it, and its current domain leader.

Scientific Publications and Communications Domain
     This domain includes the Publications Committee and represents all of the Society's publications (books, journals, standards, best practices), and the Web site. In addition, it addresses all issues related to proposed publications. Contact Domain Leader Kermit Davis for more information.

HFES Institute Domain
     Originally led by Arnie Lund (2006-2008), the HFES Institute Domain includes the HFES Institute and the various task forces and committees that develop standards and best practices, such as the ISO and ANSI/HFES standards committees. It also includes the HF Standardization Interest Group. Contact Domain Leader Bruce Bradtmiller for more information.

Internal Affairs Domain
     The Internal Affairs Domain includes the following committees: Accreditation Review Committee, Awards Committee, Chapter Affairs Committee, Council of Technical Groups, Education and Training Committee, Fellows Selection Committee, Membership Committee, Professional Standards Committee, and Student Affairs Committee. Contact Domain Leader Tony Andre for more information.

Outreach Domain
     This domain, whose inaugural leader was Marvin Dainoff (2006-2008), includes various committees that relate to outreach to other societies, organizations, and individuals. The committees under its purview are the Diversity, Government Relations, IEA Representatives, Interorganizational Relations, National Ergonomics Month, and Media Relations Committees. Contact Deborah Boehm-Davis for more information.

Meetings Domain
     Overseeing all of the elements and activities related to the HFES Annual Meeting is the function of the Meetings Domain. The committees within this domain include the Annual Meeting Host Committee and Technical Program Committee. Contact Domain Leader Phil Smith for more information.

     If you would like to learn more about the domain leader role, please contact me or any of the other domain leaders. We hope that qualified individuals will make known their interest in these important leadership positions.

Table of Contents for July 2009 HFES Bulletin

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