Providing Objective Metrics of Team Communication Skills via Interpersonal coordination Mechanisms

Being able to communicate efficiently has been acknowledged as a vital skill in many different domains. In particular, team communication skills are of key importance in the operation of complex machinery such as aircrafts, maritime vessels and such other, highly-specialized, civilian or military vehicles, as well as the performance of complex tasks in the medical domain. In this paper, we propose to use prosodic accommodation and turn- taking organisation to provide objective metrics of communica- tion skills. To do this, human-factors evaluations, via a coordi- nation Demand Analysis (CDA), were used in conjunction with a dynamic model of prosodic accommodation and turn-taking organisation. Using conversational speech from airline pilots involved in a collaborative task (decision-making exercise), our study reveals that interpersonal coordination mechanisms are indicative of human evaluation of pilots’ communication skills. We discuss our results in terms of relevance for training simu- lation for personnel in safety or mission critical environment

Team Learning: A Theoretical Integration and Review

With the increasing emphasis on work teams as the primary architecture of organizational structure, scholars have begun to focus attention on team learning, the processes that support it, and the important outcomes that depend on it. Although the literature addressing learning in teams is broad, it is also messy and fraught with conceptual confusion. This chapter presents a theoretical integration and review. The goal is to organize theory and research on team learning, identify actionable frameworks and findings, and emphasize promising targets for future research. We emphasize three theoretical foci in our examination of team learning, treating it as multilevel (individual and team, not individual or team), dynamic (iterative and progressive; a process not an outcome), and emergent (outcomes of team learning can manifest in different ways over time). The integrative theoretical heuristic distinguishes team learning process theories, supporting emergent states, team knowledge representations, and respective influences on team performance and effectiveness. Promising directions for theory development and research are discussed

Professional practices, training, and funding mechanisms: A survey of pediatric primary care psychologists

The integration of mental health services in primary care settings has expanded rapidly in recent years with psychologists being at the forefront of efforts to promote healthy behaviors, reduce disease, and care for behavioral, emotional, and developmental needs to promote overall health and well-being for children and families (Asarnow, Kolko, Miranda,&Kazak, 2017; Stancin& Perrin, 2014). While there are many psychologists working in pediatric primary care (PPC), little is known about the specific activities that these psychologists engage in, the training they receive, or funding mechanisms that support their work. This study sought to address this gap in the literature through a survey of psychologists working in PPC. An anonymous online survey was disseminated to members of professional organizations and listservs who were identified as having interest in PPC. Psychologists (N-65) currently practicing in PPC completed the survey by reporting on clinical roles and practices, professional training, practice settings, and funding supports in PPC settings. Results indicate that psychologists assume a number of roles in PPC including providing individual and family therapy, conducting screenings for child mental health concerns, and providing consultation to medical colleagues. Many psychologists also provide supervision and offer educational opportunities for those in related fields, such as medicine and social work. Engagement in research activities was identified as a secondary activity. It was reported that a number of clinical activities were not billed for on a regular basis. Additional areas of research will be discussed along with implications for clinical services in PPC.. © 2017 American Psychological Association

The emergence of team resilience: A multilevel conceptual model of facilitating factors

With empirical research on team resilience on the rise, there is a need for an integrative conceptual model that delineates the essential elements of this concept and offers a heuristic for the integration of findings across studies. To address this need, we propose a multilevel model of team resilience that originates in the resources of individual team members and emerges as a team-level construct through dynamic person–situation interactions that are triggered by adverse events. In so doing, we define team resilience as an emergent outcome characterized by the trajectory of a team's functioning, following adversity exposure, as one that is largely unaffected or returns to normal levels after some degree of deterioration in functioning. This conceptual model offers a departure point for future work on team resilience and reinforces the need to incorporate inputs and process mechanisms inherent within dynamic interactions among individual members of a team. Of particular, importance is the examination of these inputs, process mechanisms and emergent states, and outcomes over time, and in the context of task demands, objectives, and adverse events. Practitioner points: Team resilience as a dynamic, multilevel phenomenon requires clarity on the individual- and team-level factors that foster its emergence within occupational and organizational settings. An understanding of the nature (e.g., timing, chronicity) of adverse events is key to studying and intervening to foster team resilience within occupational and organizational settings

Information Technology Auditing: A Value-Added IT Governance Partnership between IT Management and Audit

Information systems provide both the means for organizations to transact business and the ability to report the financial results of their operations. Information technology auditing is an integral part of corporate governance. However, information technology auditing is often looked upon as a “necessary evil” or is overlooked entirely by IT management We argue that IT audit activities can provide additional value beyond the primary objective of assurance, assuming the organization embraces IT governance partnerships between IT management and the audit function. We also analyze factors developed from field study research that suggest IT audits are special projects requiring a quality audit process and sound project management principles. These success factors, if managed properly, can lead to high-quality IT audit products (i.e., engagements) that could conceivably free audit resources for more value-added projects and enterprise oversight. We close with a discussion of future research directions

Enhancing Clinical Manager Self-Efficacy through a Change Management Academy

Healthcare systems are facing increased pressure to develop their clinical managers’ abilities and competencies leading change. Clinical managers that are equipped with these capabilities can influence greater quality and safety outcomes for patients. Literature and industry findings both strongly suggest that leaders who possess increased self-efficacy are more effective leading change. This is demonstrated at the unit and system level through improved project management, successfully executing strategic initiatives, retaining staff, and being more fiscally responsible. There are significant clinical and business advantages for healthcare systems that foster change management skills for their clinical managers When organizations do not provide support, guidance, and systematic leadership development processes, they are more apt to fail when leading change. This scholarly project focused on designing and implementing an applicable leadership academy, particularly focused on developing change management competencies for clinical managers. This project utilized the Change Acceleration Process as the core framework for content delivery, instructed techniques, and methodology for successfully leading change. During the 8 week academy, participants were surveyed via the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) instrument, a 10 item Likert scale questionnaire which evaluated participants’ self-efficacy. A quantitative, descriptive statistical analysis was conducted that analyzed the GSE results both prior to the participation in the academy, as well as post-participation. Additionally, collected descriptive information contributed demographic information regarding participant Results of the study demonstrated statistical improvements following participation in the academy. Additionally, this study suggested that clinical managers who participate in learning based academies have a greater chance of increasing their self-efficacy. In turn, this can improve the healthcare organization’s care delivery goals, as well their overall business performance

Work Groups and Teams in Organizations: Review Update

This review chapter examines the literature on work team effectiveness. To begin, we consider their nature, define them, and identify four critical conceptual issues—context, workflow, levels, and time—that serve as review themes and discuss the multitude of forms that teams may assume. We then shift attention to the heart of the review, examining key aspects of the creation, development, operation, and management of work teams. To accomplish objectives of breadth and integration, we adopt a lifecycle perspective to organize the review. Topics involved in the team lifecycle include: (1) team composition; (2) team formation, socialization, and development; (3) team processes, effectiveness, and enhancements; (4) team leadership and motivation; (5) and team continuance and decline. We characterize representative theory and research, identify thematic limitations, and highlight work that is beginning to push the boundaries on our critical conceptual issues. We also address application concerns where possible. Finally, we close with a discussion that reflects back on the topics, considers the state of progress regarding our critical conceptual themes, and suggests directions for new research to foster continued progress and development