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Team Task Analysis

Background

“A tool through which critical taskwork and teamwork KSAOs can be identified. Typically subsumed under the umbrella of “job analysis,” a task analysis is a critical part of the process whereby job tasks are defined in terms of objectively identifiable activities" (Burke & Howell, R., 2018, p. 21).

Team task analysis is a method for determining which jobs and tasks require interdependent action and coordination and thus are suitable for teams. It also facilitates the identification of taskwork and teamwork KSAOs.

Signs that indicate a team might benefit from a team task analysis intervention include when their performance is suffering due to a lack of understanding of the level of interdependence required for success on a task. For example, a team may need intervention when there is confusion about individual roles or the way work and information should flow through the team. Teams that misinterpret individual tasks as requiring high levels of team interdependence may also benefit from a team task analysis.

Relevant Readings

  • Arthur, W., Edwards, B. D., Bell, S. T., Villado, A. J., & Bennett, W. (2005). Team task analysis: Identifying tasks and jobs that are team based. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 47(3), 654–669. https://doi.org/10.1518/001872005774860087
    • Arthur et al. (2005) developed three team task analysis scales to measure team interdependency. These scales quantify the degree to which a task or job is team-based through team relatedness and team workflow. They found that the scales distinguished between individual and team tasks.
  • Arthur, W., Glaze, R. M., Bhupatkar, A., Villado, A. J., Bennett, W., & Rowe, L. J. (2012). Team task analysis: Differentiating between tasks using team relatedness and team workflow as metrics of team task interdependence. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 54(2), 277–295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018720811435234 
    • Arthur et al. (2012) investigated team relatedness and workflow as metrics of interdependence. They found that these measures differentiated between tasks with varying levels of interdependence. Teams that accurately perceived task interdependence performed better. The study used F-16 fighter pilots in a field setting, extending the findings of Arthur et al. (2005).
  • Burke, C. S., & Howell, R. (2018). Team task analysis: Considerations and guidance. In J. Johnston, R. Sottilare, A. M. Sinatra, & C. Shawn Burke (Eds.), Research on Managing Groups and Teams (Vol. 19, pp. 19–32). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1534-085620180000019005
    • Burke and Howell (2018) discuss team task analysis for developing team-based intelligent tutoring systems. They highlight the complexity of team training and the need to analyze both taskwork and teamwork skills. The chapter provides guidance for team task analysis implementation.
  • Fleming, A. C., & Mihalecz, M. C. (2022). Tips for tackling team task analysis (Research Note 2022-09). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.
    • Fleming & Mihalecz (2022) distinguish team task analysis from individual job analysis and offer practical steps for conducting team task analysis, such as defining objectives, collecting data, and analyzing teamwork demands. The report emphasizes that team task analysis is an iterative and resource-intensive process, best approached using multiple methods and data sources.