Multiteam systems (MTSs) are comprised of two or more interconnected teams working toward shared superordinate goals but with unique sub-goals. To date, research has predominantly focused on how decisions are made and has viewed these cognitive processes as occurring within individuals. However, for MTSs operating in extreme environments such as disasters, it is often not a question of how decisions are made, but what is causing delays and failures to make decisions. To understand the causes of decision delay within these complex networks, it is important to focus on decision processes at the multiteam level. Using naturalistic observational and interview data collected during a multi-site, multiteam emergency response to a large-scale disaster exercise, this study examines both information sharing (what was shared, with whom, how long this took), and decision processes across teams (situational awareness—SA, plan formulation, and plan execution). Findings demonstrate that interdependencies in cognitive processes exist across individuals where goals overlap. Decision delay is not only caused by failure to develop SA within a team preventing their ability to formulate and execute plans but also by the inability of other teams to execute their plans. The implications of these findings for developing targeted interventions are discussed.

中文翻译：

---

信息共享对多团队灾难响应中决策延迟的作用

多团队系统 (MTS) 由两个或多个相互关联的团队组成，他们致力于共同的上级目标，但具有独特的子目标。迄今为止，研究主要集中在如何做出决策，并将这些认知过程视为发生在个人内部。然而，对于在灾难等极端环境中运行的 MTS 来说，通常不是如何做出决策的问题，而是导致决策延迟和失败的问题。要了解这些复杂网络中决策延迟的原因，重要的是要关注多团队级别的决策过程。本研究使用在对大规模灾难演习的多站点、多团队应急响应期间收集的自然观察和访谈数据，检查了信息共享（共享的内容、与谁共享、花费了多长时间）、和跨团队的决策过程（态势感知——SA、计划制定和计划执行）。研究结果表明，认知过程的相互依赖存在于目标重叠的个体之间。决策延迟不仅是由于未能在团队内开发 SA 导致他们无法制定和执行计划，还因为其他团队无法执行他们的计划。讨论了这些发现对制定有针对性的干预措施的影响。决策延迟不仅是由于未能在团队内开发 SA 导致他们无法制定和执行计划，还因为其他团队无法执行他们的计划。讨论了这些发现对制定有针对性的干预措施的影响。决策延迟不仅是由于未能在团队内开发 SA 导致他们无法制定和执行计划，还因为其他团队无法执行他们的计划。讨论了这些发现对制定有针对性的干预措施的影响。