Gilbert's Behavior Engineering Model

Thomas Gilbert is considered one of the founding fathers of HPT. His behavior engineering model is a tool that is used to identify barriers to individual and organizational performance. The model lays out six categories of variables that impact performance. These six categories are divided into two groups, environmental and individual. The categories include data, resources, and incentives of the environmental supports; knowledge, capacity, and motives of a person’s repertory of behavior. The identified six factors are those that affect behavior. Information includes communicating clear expectations, providing the necessary guides to do the work, and giving timely, behaviorally specific feedback. Resources include ensuring that the proper materials, tools, time and processes are present to accomplish the task. Incentives ensure that the appropriate financial and non-financial incentives are present to encourage performance. Individual motives should be aligned with the work environment so that employees have a desire to work and progress. Capacity refers to whether the worker can learn and do what is necessary to be successful on the job. The final factor refers to whether the individual has the necessary knowledge and skills to do a certain task needed to accomplish a project or goal. Environmental factors are the starting point for analysis because they pose the greatest barriers to exemplary performance. When the environmental supports are strong, individuals are better able to do what is expected of them.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229651267_Updating_the_behavior_engineering_model

Binder, C. The Six Boxes: A Descendent of Gilbert’s Behavior Engineering Model. Performance Improvement, 37(6).