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An exploratory study: a measure of workload associated with teamwork

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Abstract

Team workload, which is usually described as an index of the ratio of available team resources to task demands, is believed to be critical for optimal human–computer integration. Although research conceptualizing team workload suggests that the measurement of team workload should consider workload unique to the team, the sum/min/max of members’ workload associated with taskwork referring to individual task performance is often used as an indicator of team workload. In order to better assess workload in team performance in which more than two individuals cooperate and conduct a task, it is also necessary to assess members’ workload associated with teamwork that refers to interpersonal interactions among individuals. The present study aims to develop a measure of workload associated with teamwork and discuss its contribution to operationalizing team workload. Results of team experiments indicate that the Teamwork Workload Scale is able to assess workload associated with teamwork and that it is necessary to assess both workload associated with taskwork and teamwork in order to better assess workload in team performance and operationalize team workload. In order to operationalize and measure team workload, it is necessary to investigate workload in team performance using quantitative data.

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Author notes

  1. Kohei Nonose

    Present address: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Chiyoda-ku, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan

    Kohei Nonose, Yuki Yoda, Taro Kanno & Kazuo Furuta

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  1. Kohei Nonose
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  2. Yuki Yoda
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  3. Taro Kanno
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  4. Kazuo Furuta
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Correspondence to Kohei Nonose.

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Nonose, K., Yoda, Y., Kanno, T. et al. An exploratory study: a measure of workload associated with teamwork. Cogn Tech Work 18, 351–360 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-015-0363-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-015-0363-x

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