Team dynamics in isolated, confined environments - Saturation divers and high altitude climbers
The effects of leadership dynamics and social organization factors on team performance under conditions of high altitude climbing and deep sea diving are studied. Teams of two to four members that know each other well and have a relaxed informal team structure with much sharing of responsibilities are found to do better than military teams with more than four members who do not know each other well and have a formal team structure with highly specialized rules. Professionally guided teams with more than four members, a formally defined team structure, and clearly designated role assignments did better than 'club' teams of more than four members with a fairly informal team structure and little role specialization.