Knowledge Training versus Process Training: The Effects of Training Protocol on Team Coordination and Performance

Three-person teams controlling a simulated unmanned aerial vehicle underwent different training regimes in order to assess the effect of process-based and knowledge-based training on team coordination and performance. Coordination and performance were assessed during training and eight to eleven weeks after training. Process training consisted of either enforcing a rigid coordination process or forcing teams to coordinate in different ways through the introduction of perturbations. Knowledge training consisted of cross-training teams on each others roles. Results indicate that process training had a significant effect on team coordination. In addition, the qualitative nature of coordination flexibility changed from training to retention for process versus knowledge trained teams, with process teams behaving flexibly at retention. Perturbation process training led to significantly higher team performance under high workload. Rigid process training lead to significantly lower performance in one of the retention missions.