Team Adaptation in High Reliability Teams

Abstract

This research attempts to identify key components of adaptation in high reliability teams, with the goal being error reduction. The current literature is limited in its lack of empirical evidence showing how these models may differ based upon specific characteristics of high reliability teams. This topic is explored through three separate studies using resuscitation teams faced with family presence as a representation of a high reliability team requiring adaptation. Our first study sought to cultivate deeper understanding of the trigger and how it may potentially affect a team via a scoping study of family presence. The second study used qualitative analysis of debriefs with the sample population to identify key processes of successful team adaptation. In our third study, we used a mixed methods approach to test and provide evidence for the existence of the key processes and states identified in the second study. How this evidence contributes to our understanding of team adaptation in high reliability teams is discussed in the final chapter. Our findings indicate that high reliability teams differ from the standard team during the adaptation process and this may impact how we should approach training these teams.