Collaborative Tools and Shared Mental Models

Abstract

This paper reports on an experiment conducted to measure collaboration tool usage and shared mental models in Army Command and Control. Several teams of soldiers participated in a two-week simulation experiment. During the simulation, the run was stopped and participants completed a 5-minuted on-line questionnaire in which they were asked to rate their workload and other teammates workload as well as provide information on the collaboration tools used during the last hour of the exercise. Shared mental models was measured using congruency between each person's rating of their own workload and their teammates perception of their workload. Overall, using the same collaboration tool, irrespective of the tool type, to communicate between team members lead to higher shared mental models.