Investigating Team Collaboration of an Air Force Research Event October 2008

During October 2008, an Air Force Research Event was conducted to integrate operational concepts and training techniques from different commands. The collaborative teamwork demonstrated in the highly asymmetric threat exercise scenario was recorded in Mardem-Bey internet relay chat logs across fifteen different chat rooms. The goal of this thesis was to use chat room recorded data that was extracted from an exercise environment simulating an Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) cell using an experimental structure; non-approved tactics, techniques, and procedures; and a fictional environment to stimulate certain training processes to evaluate a measurement model of macrocognition developed under the Collaboration and Knowledge Integration program, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. The model focuses on team member's cognitive processes used during collaboration with the goal of trying to understand how individuals collaborate to build new knowledge and accomplish their tasks. Effective chat communications may expedite the process of moving the team towards achieving their ultimate goal, which was to produce optimum combat effectiveness in a timely manner. Thesis results will be provided to the Office of Naval Research to help improve collaboration among teams while operating in stressful and dynamic environments.
The original document contains color images.