Crew Resource Management (CRM) training has been among the staple diet when addressing Human Factors within military aviation, both in the initial and recurrent training phases. In recurrent training, CRM modules traditionally focus on creating awareness of the role of non-technical skills such as decision making in safe operations. While awareness can be successfully raised by CRM courses, actual change of non–technical behavior is still a challenge. Military aviators often claim it is difficult to implement the theoretical aspects of CRM training in practice. Therefore, a solution is needed where non-technical skills can be applied in a relatively rich way, including team aspects and time pressure, to create situations where human factors issues may be experienced and trained. At the same time, the solution is subject to many constraints: it needs to be short (to fit into a regular CRM training day), cost effective and easy to use. To address this challenge, the potential of commercial video games was evaluated empirically. Based on the CRM training module, a ‘suitability analysis’ was performed on a range of different commercial video games, decomposing the different game elements of each game. Resulting from the analysis, a training solution using the game “XCOM – Enemy Within� was developed. This training solution was subsequently applied in a CRM training course. Using video recordings, team and individual behavior have been analyzed thoroughly to identify the game’s potential for producing CRM behavior as well as effect on dynamics of group behavior and decision making. Key training effectiveness evaluation points included depth and variety of challenges posed by the game, trainee potential to implement CRM and instructor possibility to evaluate CRM behaviors. Results indicate the game is effective in developing CRM behavior in trainees and leads to sufficient feedback input for instructors.
Improving military Crew Resource Management using a commercial strategy game
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