ERGOMAS' purposes are pursued through the activity of Working Groups and the Biennial conference.

ERGOMAS distinctive quality lies in the research activities of its working groups, which meet (virtually or face-to-face) on occasions outside the formal meetings of the Association as a whole. A working group need not follow the same pattern: it could range from sharing of knowledge and methods, to the development of theory and of a common framework and methods to conduct an international project.

ERGOMAS is not, therefore, just a conference based on panels for the delivery of papers. Rather, it is a meeting designed for the delivery of results and ideas of working groups that have been meeting and working beforehand. Working Groups can change their directions of work and can be joined by new working groups, while others may end their work and be dissolved if they decide they have no more to say on a topic.

ERGOMAS rests, therefore, on the dynamism and research collaboration of its constituent working groups.