Cristina Gibson Co-Authors Study on How High-Stakes Teams Adapt to Crisis

Cristina Gibson, faculty member at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, has co-authored a new study in Organization Science that examines how teams operating in high-risk environments—such as firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency medicine—adapt to unexpected, disruptive events.

The research examines how teams transition between implicit and explicit forms of coordination, depending on their understanding of the event. Implicit coordination is based on shared expectations and prior experience, while explicit coordination involves deliberate planning and communication. The study found that when teams clearly understand a situation, implicit coordination is effective, but when uncertainty is high, explicit coordination becomes essential.

Drawing from field data involving 350 Chilean firefighters across 46 emergency missions, along with a complementary lab experiment, the study also highlights how procedural rigidity can hinder adaptability. Strict adherence to protocol may limit a team’s ability to assess unfolding situations, with potentially serious consequences.

This work advances theory on team adaptation and offers practical guidance for organizations seeking to enhance team performance in critical, fast-moving contexts.

Read more here.