Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control

The goal of information sharing is to change a person's image of the world and to develop a shared working understanding. It is an essential component of collaboration. This paper examines barriers to sharing information effectively in dynamic group work situations.Three types of battlefield tr...

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Main Author: Diane H. Sonnenwald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2006-01-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://informationr.net/ir/11-4/paper270.html
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author Diane H. Sonnenwald
author_facet Diane H. Sonnenwald
author_sort Diane H. Sonnenwald
collection DOAJ
description The goal of information sharing is to change a person's image of the world and to develop a shared working understanding. It is an essential component of collaboration. This paper examines barriers to sharing information effectively in dynamic group work situations.Three types of battlefield training simulations were observed and open-ended interviews with military personnel were conducted. Observation notes and interview transcripts were analysed to identify incidents when group members erroneously believed they had shared information effectively and were collaborating successfully, i.e., a deceptively false shared understanding had emerged. These incidents were analysed to discover what led to these unsuspected breakdowns in information sharing. <br><b>Results.</b> Unsuspected breakdowns in information sharing emerged when: differences in implementations of shared symbols were not recognized; implications of relevant information were not shared; differences in the role and expression of emotions when sharing information was not understood; and, the need to re-establish trust was not recognized. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> The challenges in information sharing identified here may extend to other high stress, unique and complex situations, such as natural disasters. Recommendations for more effective information behavior techniques in dynamic group work situations are presented.
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spelling doaj-art-6c69322e33e24aa083ee437894d6d7702025-02-02T12:51:09ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132006-01-01114270Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and controlDiane H. SonnenwaldThe goal of information sharing is to change a person's image of the world and to develop a shared working understanding. It is an essential component of collaboration. This paper examines barriers to sharing information effectively in dynamic group work situations.Three types of battlefield training simulations were observed and open-ended interviews with military personnel were conducted. Observation notes and interview transcripts were analysed to identify incidents when group members erroneously believed they had shared information effectively and were collaborating successfully, i.e., a deceptively false shared understanding had emerged. These incidents were analysed to discover what led to these unsuspected breakdowns in information sharing. <br><b>Results.</b> Unsuspected breakdowns in information sharing emerged when: differences in implementations of shared symbols were not recognized; implications of relevant information were not shared; differences in the role and expression of emotions when sharing information was not understood; and, the need to re-establish trust was not recognized. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> The challenges in information sharing identified here may extend to other high stress, unique and complex situations, such as natural disasters. Recommendations for more effective information behavior techniques in dynamic group work situations are presented.http://informationr.net/ir/11-4/paper270.htmlInformation sharing in battlefield command and control environments.
spellingShingle Diane H. Sonnenwald
Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Information sharing in battlefield command and control environments.
title Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control
title_full Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control
title_fullStr Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control
title_full_unstemmed Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control
title_short Challenges in sharing information effectively: examples from command and control
title_sort challenges in sharing information effectively examples from command and control
topic Information sharing in battlefield command and control environments.
url http://informationr.net/ir/11-4/paper270.html
work_keys_str_mv AT dianehsonnenwald challengesinsharinginformationeffectivelyexamplesfromcommandandcontrol