Enhancing team performance in adverse conditions: The role of shared team mental models and team training on an interdependent task

In the last decade, organizations have relied more on teams as an integral part of their operations. This has stimulated the resurgance of a research effort focused on enriching our understanding of team processes and effectiveness. Recently it has been proposed that the ability of team members to adapt to changing task and team demands and coordinate activities with teammates will be enhanced through shared task and team mental models. Furthermore, this effect is magnified under adverse conditions, where overt communication is often hampered. This study empirically tested the notion that teams which possess overlapping team mental models are more successful on an interdependent task than teams in which these mental models have not been shared. Subjects were 288 undergradutes assigned to 96 mixed-sex 3-person teams. Two levels of training content, training procedure, and battle stress were manipulated. Team members completed a task where they formed a mock tank platoon assigned with the task of preserving their own assets and depleting enemy assets. Analyses indicated that shared team mental models significantly enhanced coordinated performance. In addition, teams that trained in a cooperative learning environment were better able to cope with adverse effects of battle stress. Implications and future research needs are discussed.