Identifying Team Decision Making Factors in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme Environments

Sound decision making is critical for crews in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments, yet influencing factors are not well understood. Existing studies face challenges in generalizing due to variability in missions and crews, making data difficult to synthesize. Addressing this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with practitioners ( N = 8) from diverse ICE teams. Using directed content analysis guided by models of naturalistic decision making, teaming, and literature-identified ICE stressors, we propose an integrative framework that maps elements of ICE team decision making and their interrelationships, including mission objectives, risks, team characteristics, and communication. Accordingly, we identify high-priority factors for empirical investigation.