Operator Loading Effects in a Simulated Tactical Decision-Making Problem

Abstract

The objective of this effort was to explore the nature of the degradation in performance, in a military command and control environment, when human capacity limits are exceeded. In dual-task situations, operators were able to perform a primary anti-air warfare task with little degradation but at the expense of the concurrent task. However, a distinction should be made between an operator's rate of output and the quality of performance. Few operators ever used strategies that would minimize overall threat. Thus, in high-density situations, operators may be highly productive but decidedly suboptimal. Use of decision aids in this critical area may be very effective.