Towards computer support for cooperation in time-critical work settings

In complex time-critical work settings the coordination of the distributed cooperative activities is handled "on the fly" while the work is going on. This has severe implications on the type of computer-based coordination support that should be provided. The present paper reports from a field study of crews navigating a large vessel. Based on this implications for and potentials of computer-based coordination support are discussed. An essential finding in our study was that the actors mainly coordinate and evaluate their understanding of the current situation through a process of mapping and comparing different sources of representations of the state of affairs. This is mainly done by means of verbal communication. Hence, support for establishing and maintaining a "common picture of the state of affairs" among the actors is required.