From Teams to Teamness: Future Directions in the Science of Team Cognition

Abstract

We review the current state-of-the-art in team cognition research, but more importantly describe the limitations of existing theories, laboratory paradigms, and measures considering the increasing complexities of modern teams and the study of team cognition. Research on, and applications of, team cognition has led to theories, data, and measures over the last several decades. This article is based on research questions generated in a spring 2022 seminar on team cognition at Arizona State University led by the first author. Future research directions are proposed for extending the conceptualization of teams and team cognition by examining dimensions of teamness; extending laboratory paradigms to attain more realistic teaming, including nonhuman teammates; and advancing measures of team cognition in a direction such that data can be collected unobtrusively, in real time, and automatically. The future of team cognition is one of the new discoveries, new research paradigms, and new measures. Extending the concepts of teams and team cognition can also extend the potential applications of these concepts.