Cultural Evolution in Team Problem Solving

Abstract

This paper uses a framework developed from memetics—a theoretical perspective on cultural evolution—as the basis for investigating aspects of team problem solving. Specifically, the roles of shared mental models, team situational awareness, and team problem models in the problem identification and conceptualization stages of team problem solving are explored from a cultural evolutionary perspective. Results of this analysis indicate that cultural evolutionary perspectives are useful in interpreting developmental aspects of team problem solving skills and adaptations of team level knowledge to task and environmental constraints.