RE: Team formation

Breen, John (IMCEAMS-TRANSPORT_WESTHQ1_BREENJO_at_NAVCANADA.CA)
Mon, 14 Jul 1997 10:49:35 -0400

Good Morning Tim Halen, and CRMers.
Tim has already met me. I am John Breen, an air traffic controller at
NAV CANADA Regional Headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
I am tasked with developing a CRM-like program for air traffic
controllers, and have been at this since January'97. (Tim and I met at
an Air Canada CRM course in April.) As I am singularly dedicated to
this one task, I have made great strides in developing an "Air Traffic
Services Team Resource Management (ATS-TRM) course.
The course will be three days, totally non-ATC technical, completely
focussed on the human element in ATC. Team Building, Human Factors
Awareness, Interpersonal Communication in the Operational Environment,
Situational Awareness and SA Management, Decision Making. These are the
module subjects for the course.
Canada's Transportation Safety Board says that over 50% of air traffic
services operational irregularities are induced through such human
failings as lack of vigilance and poor SA. We intend to address these
areas from several directions, all ultimately focussing on Vigilance,
SA, and effective Decision Making. The first course will be offered to
16 tower controllers beginning Oct 06. Ten more courses will follow in
the immediate weeks thereafter.

Tim, you will want to investigate a company in Toronto, called Human
Synergistics Canada. For our TRM course, we are dealing with Human
Synergistics, and two of our Nav Canada TRM team will attend a Team
Building Leaders' Course Aug 11-13. Call Human Synergistics at
519-485-4203. Having researched this company, I have found them to be
highly recommended by several people, including the Transport Canada CRM
guys here in the Great West.

For our friends in Australia who are looking at Team Formation, Human
Synergistics has offices in Melbourne, VIC, Phone 61-3-9602-2444, and
in Surrey Hills, NSW _at_ 61-2-9281-5559. If the reception there is as
positive as mine has been here in Canada, you will be off to a fine
start.
For everybody: The Human Synergistics Canada web address is
info_at_hscanada.ca

Hope all this is helpful.

I'm glad to be aboard with such an august group !!

Cheers,
John G Breen
ATS-TRM Project
NAV CANADA
Edmonton AB

>----------
>From: Tim Halen[SMTP:tmhalen_at_ibm.net]
>Sent: July 11, 1997 3:19 PM
>To: CRM Developers
>Subject: Team formation
>
>Hello all...
>
>By way of introduction, my name is Tim Halen. I am a DHC-8 Capt. and a
>member of the CRM Team for Air Nova, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
>You've already made the acquaintance of my cohorts, Capts Tim Manuge &
>Rob Vatcher. Along with Capt. Pat Spiteri, we make up the team tasked
>with developing & implementing a comprehensive, ongoing CRM & HF program
>for our organization.
>
>I've been lurking here for a while now, reading the postings with great
>interest. I'm currently working my way through "Cockpit Resource
>Management" by Weiner, Kanki and Helmreich. What has particularly
>caught my interest is the emphasis, so far, on the concepts of teamwork,
>and team development as an aspect of CRM. This is quite a shift from
>the "fix-the-individual" CRM programs I've been exposed to in the past.
>
>I'm very interested in the team-formation phase, and how actions during
>this period can influence the effectiveness of the team. Our
>organization encourages the use of pre-trip briefings, but leaves the
>format & content up to the individual captain, with consequent
>variability in the effectiveness of this activity. I'd appreciate any
>input on how other organizations approach this. Are specific guidelines
>given as to material which should (shall?) be covered. Is this guidance
>given formally in operations manuals, as part of a "command-course" or
>incorporated into your organizations CRM training?
>
>Many thanks in advance...
>
>Tim Halen
>
>