Team training, teamwork and team performance: Role of advanced technology for team training in the aircraft maintenance environment

Research on civil aircraft inspection and maintenance has shown the importance of teamwork in completing aircraft inspection/maintenance tasks. Training has been identified as one of the primary intervention strategies in improving team performance. Moreover, if training is to be successful, it is clear that we need to provide aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) with training tools to help enhance their team skills and improve team performance within the aircraft inspection/maintenance environment. In response to this need, this research looked at the role of team training and specifically that of advanced technology for team training in enhancing team performance. As part of the effort which examined the application of advanced technology to team training, a computer based team training software--Aircraft Maintenance Team Training Software (AMTT)--was developed.;A controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced technology for team training. The study was conducted in two phases: the instructional phase, wherein 18 subjects received training through the AMTT software (CBT), and the remaining 18 subjects received training using a traditional instructor-based (IBT) equivalent team training program. In the evaluation phase, the subjects were divided into three member teams and the performance of teams was evaluated as they completed a routine and a non-routine maintenance task. Analyses of the results showed that the type of training delivery system (IBT and CBT) did not have a significant effect on the acquisition and application of team skills. Scores for both groups were high and comparable. In addition, there were no significant differences between IBT and CBT delivery systems in terms of user satisfaction. Both the training delivery systems reported a high level of user satisfaction on general usability issues as well as training specific usability issues. As a result of comparable scores on post training teams skills knowledge tests, subjective satisfaction questionnaires, self-evaluation and instructor's evaluation on the application of team skills, and the performance of the teams on the maintenance tasks, it was clear that the AMTT software was as effective in delivering team training instruction as IBT.