Coordination Restructuring in Team Training: Navigating Through Order and Disorder

Abstract

Teams operating in high-risk environments, such emergency management, require constant coordination adaptations to manage dynamic task demands. However, training for such adaptations remains understudied. This study used sliding window entropy to analyse emergency medical teams’ coordination before and after training, distinguishing two restructuring phases: equilibrium (ordered coordination) and ataxia (disordered coordination). High-performing teams transitioned between phases more frequently and spent more time in equilibrium. During ataxia, they combined standardised behaviours with proactive speaking-up and monitoring. Low-performing teams showed less initiative. These findings underscore the need for both restructuring and orderly coordination, offering valuable insights for improving adaptive training approaches.