Multiteam systems (MTSs) operating in complex and dynamic environments often have a formal hierarchical leadership structure. However, it is unclear whether individuals should stick exclusively to performing their designated tasks within the hierarchical leadership structure, or if instead, they should switch between different types of tasks to align efforts with changes in the environment. We refer to such task switching – an individual shifting to or from tasks designated for a particular leader position – as leadership task transitions. Our qualitative study of six MTSs responding to live-actor mass-casualty incidents revealed that leadership task transitions are a double-edged sword as they can simultaneously help manage the MTS-environment interface and harm MTS internal functioning. More specifically, leadership task transitions benefit the MTS by rapidly reallocating effort to alleviate the dominant environmental pressure at that time. However, they also harm the MTS by disrupting its internal task-based cycles. Rapidly restoring the disrupted cycles mitigates this harmful effect, but such cycle restoration was not successful when there was a high level of cycle activity and/or when multiple areas of the MTS were disrupted. Our findings generate new knowledge on how and why leadership task transitions impact MTSs. Implications and future directions are discussed.

中文翻译：

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应急响应多团队系统中领导任务转换的双刃剑

在复杂和动态环境中运行的多团队系统 (MTS) 通常具有正式的分层领导结构。然而，目前尚不清楚个人是否应该只坚持在层级领导结构内执行他们指定的任务，或者是否应该在不同类型的任务之间切换，以适应环境的变化。我们将这种任务转换——个人在指定给特定领导职位的任务之间转换——称为领导任务转换。我们对响应真人演员大规模伤亡事件的六个 MTS 的定性研究表明，领导任务转换是一把双刃剑，因为它们可以同时帮助管理 MTS 环境界面并损害 MTS 内部功能。进一步来说，领导任务转换通过快速重新分配工作来减轻当时主要的环境压力使 MTS 受益。然而，它们也会破坏 MTS 内部基于任务的循环，从而损害 MTS。快速恢复被破坏的周期可以减轻这种有害影响，但是当存在高水平的周期活动和/或当 MTS 的多个区域被破坏时，这种周期恢复不会成功。我们的发现产生了关于领导任务转变如何以及为何影响 MTS 的新知识。讨论了影响和未来的方向。但是当循环活动水平很高和/或 MTS 的多个区域被破坏时，这种循环恢复不会成功。我们的发现产生了关于领导任务转变如何以及为何影响 MTS 的新知识。讨论了影响和未来的方向。但是当循环活动水平很高和/或 MTS 的多个区域被破坏时，这种循环恢复不会成功。我们的发现产生了关于领导任务转变如何以及为何影响 MTS 的新知识。讨论了影响和未来的方向。