Assessing shared operational picture on TCCS

The project "Tactical command and collaboration within and between teams" focuses on studying the preconditions and basis for collaboration, here in the form of a common situational picture. The presently used battle management system TCCS was studied by setting up trials at a training facility at P4, Skövde. A scenario, questionnaire instrument, experimental design and measurement methods have been developed and tested, and shown to work well. Three teams, each consisting of one Company commander and two subordinate Platoon commanders participated in a scenario where an international mission force were to set up checkpoints in the area of operations. Three events occur during the scenario: a bridge is found to be mined, an armed vehicle passes, and an IED takes out one of the battle tanks. After each event, the participants assessed their situation understanding, mental workload, performance, information exchange and communication. The game supervisor evaluated team and individual performance and task handling. After the exercise, the participants answered questions regarding TCCS and the scenario. At a follow up meeting, the project provided feedback on the results and held a discussion regarding TCCS and the force's work methods. By measuring team aspects and collecting subjective assessments during and after the trials, an insight into, and baseline data of, today's system TCCS and it's use on the tactical level was gathered. This may in turn be used as basis for studying other battle management systems, and as lessons learned for the development of future systems.