Presentation
Exploring Dynamic Measures of Team Process in Combat Teams
DescriptionEffective teamwork is essential for success in military operations, yet most research focuses on whether teams succeed or fail—without examining how those outcomes emerge. This study explores the dynamic processes that occur within large combat teams during simulated missions. Specifically, we measured team communication, vehicle movement, and physiological signals across 14 combat scenarios using advanced time-series and network analysis techniques. We found that different teams used distinct communication styles—some more repetitive or centralized, others more distributed—while movement coordination changed depending on the phase of the mission. Interestingly, while communication and movement varied by team and task, we found no significant differences in physiological synchrony between team leaders, possibly due to standardized military training. These findings suggest that successful coordination is context-dependent and shaped by team structure, not just end results. Understanding these internal processes can help identify early signs of breakdown, tailor training, and design real-time decision-support tools. Our work moves beyond traditional performance scores to offer a deeper look at the moment-to-moment interactions that drive team effectiveness under pressure. This research has broad implications for improving team performance in complex, high-stakes environments like defense, emergency response, and space operations.
Event Type
Industry/Practitioner Content
Lecture
TimeWednesday, October 15th11:30am - 12pm CDT
LocationGrand Hall M/N
Training