title: Investigating information-processing performance of different command team structures in the NATO Problem Space.
abstract: The structure of command teams is a significant factor on their communications and ability to process, and act upon, information. The NATO Problem Space was used in this study to represent three of the main dimensions in the battle-space environment: familiarity, rate of change, and strength of information position. Results show that the five common team structures (chain, Y, circle, wheel and all-connected) did not generally perform as predicted in team literature. Findings suggest that under dynamic and highly variable conditions, high levels of synchronisation and trust should be present. On the other hand, synchronisation and trust are less important in hierarchical, highly centralised structures, because team members are more willing to accept the authority of a single leader and this tight control ensures that these teams can perform well as long as the Problem Space is familiar, information is explicit and the environment does not change. Practitioner Summary: Some types of team structures are better suited to particular constraints of the battle-space than others. This research has shown that the much touted all-connected structure is often the worst performing structure and that the traditional hierarchy of command and control has much merit in the digital information age.
authors.affiliation: a Civil, Maritime, Environmental Engineering and Science, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Bouldrewood Campus, Southampton , UK.
authors.forename: Neville A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.affiliation: b Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering , Penn State University , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rothrock
authors.affiliation: c School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Human Factors Research Group, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: d Department of Maritime Technology and Innovation , Buskerud and Vestfold University College , Vestfold , Norway.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003142:Communication; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006127:Group Structure; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: NATO Problem Space; team information processing; team structures