Military Team Research: 10 Years of Progress

Abstract

The military is growing increasingly dependent on the ability of individuals to coalesce quickly into effective teams. Consequently, there is a need for scientists to develop an understanding of the processes that influence team performance so that appropriate training can be developed. In this review, we describe the progress that has been made toward this goal. A historical perspective is provided for each of four critical factors in team performance: theoretical development, critical team processes, measurement, and training. A review of recent research in each of these areas is also presented. We conclude with a number of directions for future research.