Cognitive limitations in coordination in hierarchical information processing structures
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Authors
Armbruster, Robert R.
Subjects
Advisors
Sovereign, Michael G.
Kemple, William G.
Date of Issue
1993-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
In Command and Control, the majority of decisions require the fusion of inputs
from a number of subordinate decision-makers, to arrive at a team decision. Part of the
Navy's attempt to address the issue of hierarchical decision making is the Tactical
Decision Making Under Stress (TADMUS) program. Under this program, the
Coordination in Hierarchical Processing Structures (CHIPS) experiment was conducted
at the Naval Postgraduate School during May and June, 1993. The CHIPS experiment
is described, and data collected during the experiment used to assess the impact of human
cognitive limitations on team performance. Team performance was found to be degraded by increased stress, increased risk and
increased feedback to subordinates in the hierarchy. These effects were found to be due
to a reduced ability to distinguish between types of contact, rather than use of a less
optimal decision criterion.
It was further found that increasing the amount of information available to
subordinates increased their ability to distinguish between types of contacts, but not by
as much as is theoretically possible. There were also indications that there may be an
upper limit on the amount of information that can be successfully integrated by the
subordinates, beyond which performance declines rather than improving.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Systems Technology
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
113 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.