Journal: Human Factors

Abbreviation

Hum. Factors

Publisher

SAGE

Journal Volumes

ISSN

0018-7208
1547-8181

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Publications 1 - 10 of 12
  • A Strategic Core Role Perspective on Team Coordination: Benefits of Centralized Leadership for Managing Task Complexity in the Operating Room
    Item type: Journal Article
    Pasarakonda, Surabhi; Grote, Gudela; Schmutz, Jan; et al. (2021)
    Human Factors
    Objective. We examine whether surgical teams can handle changes in task requirements better when their formal leader and strategic core role holder —i.e. the main surgeon—is central to team coordination. Background. Evidence regarding the benefits of shared leadership for managing complex tasks is divided. We tested whether a strategic core role holder’s centrality in team coordination helps teams to handle different types of task complexity. Method. We observed coordination as specific leadership behavior in 30 surgical teams during real-life operations. To assess the strategic core role holder’s coordination centrality, we conducted social network analyses. Task complexity (i.e., surgical difficulty and unexpected events) and surgical goal attainment were rated in a questionnaire. Results. In the critical operation phase, surgical difficulty impaired goal attainment when the strategic core role holder’s coordination centrality was low, while this effect was non-significant when his/her coordination centrality was high. Unexpected events had a negative effect on surgical goal attainment. However, coordination centrality of the strategic core role holder could not help manage unexpected events. Conclusion. The results indicate that shared leadership is not beneficial when teams face surgical difficulty during the critical operation phase. In this situation, team coordination should rather be centralized around the strategic core role holder. Contrarily, when unexpected events occur, centralizing team coordination around a single leader does not seem to be beneficial for goal attainment. Application. Leaders and team members should be aware of the importance of distributing leadership differently when it comes to managing different types of task complexity.
  • A Safety Approach for Improving Security-Effective Coordination Strategies at the Airport Security Screening Checkpoint
    Item type: Journal Article
    Walter, Stephanie; Schmutz, Jan; Grote, Gudela (2024)
    Human Factors
    Objective This study aimed to analyze effective teamwork at security checkpoints by investigating how security crews communicate in different (routine and threat) situations. Background Working at an airport security screening checkpoint is challenging. Although tasks and processes are highly regulated and standardized due to legal requirements, security screeners must be trained to deal with unforeseen threat situations involving high levels of uncertainty. Therefore, security crews need to engage in flexible and adaptive coordination according to the situation and circumstances. Method We conducted a field study with 20 airport security screening crews comprising 100 security screeners. Teamwork in terms of interaction between crew members was measured, differentiating between proactive "push" communication and information on request representing "pull" communication. Furthermore, non-task related communication was assessed. Results While crews showed non-task related communication more in routine situations, both task-related "push" and "pull" communication occurred more in threat situations. In terms of team performance, we could show significant positive effects of proactive "push" communication and non-task related interaction in threat situations. Conclusion Our results underscore the specific setting of airport security screening and the challenges that arise for teamwork. This study investigates professional screeners and passengers in the field. In contrast to other high-risk areas, security crews are confronted with a third party that complicates coordination strategies considered effective in previous studies. Application Our findings recommend situation-specific communication strategies for practical training for airport security screening crews.
  • Long-Term Muscle Fatigue After Standing Work
    Item type: Journal Article
    Garcia, Maria-Gabriela; Läubli, Thomas; Martin, Bernard J. (2015)
    Human Factors
  • Long-Lasting Changes in Muscle Twitch Force during Simulated Work while Standing or Walking
    Item type: Journal Article
    Garcia, Maria-Gabriela; Wall, Rudolf; Steinhilber, Benjamin; et al. (2016)
    Human Factors
  • Performance in a complex task and breathing under odor exposure
    Item type: Journal Article
    Danuser, B.; Moser, D.; Vitale-Sethre, T.; et al. (2003)
    Human Factors
  • Shared Leadership in Multiteam Systems
    Item type: Journal Article
    Bienefeld, Nadine; Grote, Gudela (2014)
    Human Factors
  • Predicting Air Traffic Controller Workload
    Item type: Journal Article
    Corver, Sifra C.; Unger, Dana; Grote, Gudela (2016)
    Human Factors
  • Effect of Periodic Voluntary Interventions on Trapezius Activation and Fatigue During Light Upper Limb Activity
    Item type: Journal Article
    Kim, Dongwon; Nicoletti, Corine; Soedirdjo, Subaryani D.H.; et al. (2023)
    Human Factors
    Objective The effects of diverse periodic interventions on trapezius muscle fatigue and activity during a full day of computer work were investigated. Background Musculoskeletal disorders, including trapezius myalgia, may be associated with repeated exposure to prolonged low-level activity, even during light upper-extremity tasks including computer work. Methods Thirty healthy adults participated in a study that simulated two 6-hour workdays of computer work. One workday involved imposed periodic passive and active interventions aimed at disrupting trapezius contraction monotony (Intervention day), whereas the other workday did not (Control day). Trapezius muscle activity was quantified by the 3-dimensional acceleration of the jolt movement of the acromion produced by electrically induced muscle twitches. The spatio-temporal distribution of trapezius activity was measured through high-density surface electromyography (HD-EMG). Results The twitch acceleration magnitude in one direction was significantly different across measurement periods (p = 0.0156) on Control day, whereas no significant differences in any direction were observed (p > 0.05) on Intervention day. The HD-EMG from Intervention day showed that only significant voluntary muscle contractions (swing arms, Jacobson maneuver) induced a decrease in the muscle activation time and an increase in the spatial muscle activation areas (p < 0.01). Conclusion Disruption of trapezius monotonous activity via brief voluntary contractions effectively modified the ensuing contraction pattern (twitch acceleration along one axis, active epochs reduction, and larger spatial distribution). The observed changes support an associated reduction of muscle fatigue. Application This study suggests that disruptive intervention activity is efficient in reducing the impact of trapezius muscle fatigue.
  • Muscular and Vascular Issues Induced by Prolonged Standing With Different Work–Rest Cycles With Active or Passive Breaks
    Item type: Journal Article
    Garcia, Maria-Gabriela; Läubli, Thomas; Martin, Bernard J. (2018)
    Human Factors
  • Team Communication During Patient Handover From the Operating Room
    Item type: Journal Article
    Manser, Tanja; Foster, Simon; Flin, Rhona; et al. (2013)
    Human Factors
Publications 1 - 10 of 12