Analysing communication in complex distributed decision-making

Abstract

This paper analyses emergency tasks within the theoretical framework of dynamic environment management with distributed decision-making (DDM). Models of task and work organization are used to analyse verbal exchanges in order to infer collective strategies. A cross-analysis method serves to analyse communication from the standpoint of both semantics and structure of the exchanges. The findings of two empirical comparative studies show that invariants vs differences in the organization and the semantics of exchanges are associated with invariants vs differences in parameters of the situations themselves (initial state and final result of actions). Efficient strategies were linked with well-structured flow of communication and roles distribution.