The entries in the boxes of the diagram are the names of the operations and consist only of a few words. Some tasks may be broken down into greater detail in sequence as a plan. A plan describes how the task operations are put together as a complete activity, or shows the circumstances under which one operation is performed rather than another. Plans may be cross referenced and added to the hierarchical table. In addition, where operators are time dependent or time critical, e.g. small time intervals or simultaneous actions required from an operator, time may be added at the beginning of each action, starting at zero to form a timeline analysis.
Information analysis is the final phase.
The information gained is used to yield the basic data for design decisions. For example, if a set of displays is to be designed, then the focus will be on information flow across the interface. These sources may then be used to guide design activity. Another example would be the layout of a set of controls, where the sequence of operations would be important. The sequences illustrated by the task analysis would be isolated and used to guide decisions on optimal layout, for example to minimise the amount of physical movement needed.