Shared Mental Model Development During Technology-Mediated Collaboration

This study examines how collaboration mode – face-to-face and videoconferencing technology-mediated virtual teams - shapes negotiated shared interpretation of ideas needed for shared mental model construction. Social impact theory and group action theory provide a framework for explaining how technology-mediated collaboration constrains or enhances team shared mental model development. Social impact theory suggests that team member behavior is affected by 1) influential members, 2) number of members, and 3) proximity. Group action theory proposes that team member behavior is guided by 1) assessment of task requirements, 2) adopted task strategy, and 3) evaluation of task solution. This study argues that technology-mediated collaboration will exhibit lower participation rates and intra-team communication deficiencies while developing a shared mental model of task requirements, strategy and status. Partial least squares analysis revealed that technology-mediated collaboration does impact shared mental model development. Observers noted that decision making effectiveness and timeliness regarding task execution strategy and solution content was facilitated by a shared understanding of the task context. The study also confirmed the utility of direct observation for studying communication behaviors and social interaction in the development of shared mental model and teamwork.