The effects of cross-training (presence vs. absence) and workload (high vs. low) on team processes, communication, and task performance were examined. Eighty male undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of four training conditions: cross-training, low workload; cross-training, high workload; no cross-training, low workload; and no cross-training, high workload. Results indicated that cross-training was an important determinant of effective teamwork process, communication, and performance. Predicted interactions between cross-training and workload were not supported. Implications for the design and implementation of cross-training as a means to improve team functioning are discussed.

Teams with records of superior performance have one common critical characteristic: they are extremely adaptive to varying task demands. These teams were observed to switch between several different coordination strategies and organizational structures, with different lines of authority, communication patterns, and task responsibilities, as they move between normal operations and high-tempo or emergency situations. Two questions are central to the issue: What are the effects of external stressors on team performance, and what are the mechanisms by which teams of decision-makers cope with stress? Our main hypothesis is that team coordination strategies evolve from explicit coordination under low workload conditions to implicit coordination as workload increases. To illustrate these ideas, this paper presents findings from an experimental study on the effects of stress on the performance of command teams. The computer-based experimental task simulates operations in a naval environment in which a hierarchical team of four decision-makers must coordinate complex and ambiguous information to make identifications on air targets. Three task-related stressors–time-pressure, uncertainty, and ambiguity-, and one information-structural variable were manipulated in a within-subject, full-factorial design. Results show some complex patterns of the way the different stressors combine to generate stress and affect the team decision and coordination strategies. Implicit coordination patterns, anticipatory behavior, and redirection of the team communication strategy are evident under conditions of increased time-pressure. Discrepancy between the subordinates' and the team leader's mental model of the costs of errors generates non-trivial patterns of error-making in the teams. The team leader's periodic update had a stabilizing effect on the team communication strategy. Different implementations of team training interventions to enhance mutual anticipation, prevent inadequate adaptation to stress, and foster implicit coordination in command teams are proposed.

ACKNOWLZDGMENTSDarren Law, a University of Central Florida graduate stud3nt working through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) program, was responsible for the actual software development. His superb work and willingness to accomodate our changes and refinements are indicative of his high professional standards. We would like to give a special thanks to Darren for all of his hard work on this project. Aooessston 3UCUTIVSUNl(ARY PROBLUIThe military' s current focus on Crisis And Limited Objective Warfare (CALOW) environments demands that operational personnel be prepared to rapidly process and synthesize large amounts of dynamic data in order to meet threats on potentially short notice.However, when the amount of data that must be processed exceeds an individual's information processing capacity, decision making performance may falter. PURPOSETo address this problem, the Office of Naval Technology (ONT) initiated a program of research known as Thctical Recision Making Under Itress (TADMUS). The intent of the program is to develop principles, guidelines, and instructional strategies geared toward reducing performance decrements in stressful environments.This report describes one component of the TADMUS effort which involved the development of a performance assessment task for researching tactical decision making performance in the laboratory.That task is the TActical Savy 2ilcision Making Jystem (TANDEMS). APPROACHBased on extensive interviews and observations of actual Combat Information Centers (CICs), a subset of functions was selected for simulation. The selection process was guided by several factors: eventual experimental needs, realism, cognitive requirements, and representativeness. Functions characteristic of CIC environments vary across platforms and mission areas; however, all surface combatants operate under a "doctrine" which mandates that certain functions be performed regardless of platform type.These functions include detection, tracking, identification, action, and battle damage assessment. Three of these functions -detection, identification, and actionwere selected as representative samples of the types of tasks performed within all CICs and were incorporated within TANDEMS. SYSTW( DESCRIPTIONTANDEMS was designed and developed by the Naval Training Systems Center and runs on an IBM-compatible personal computer. Users view a "radar" display on the left side of the PC monitor.Located on this display are radar contacts of unknown type and classification. On the right side of the monitor are several menus that the user may access by manipulating a trackball.Accessing and reviewing information within these menus allows the user to determine each radar contact's type (aircraft, surface ship, or submarine) as well as its 7 Special Report 92-002 classification (friendly or hostile) . By reviewing the information in the menus, the user will be in a position to identify and act upon each contact by labeling it and then performing a final engagement.The system provides the user with ...

No abstract

No abstract