Train hard, fight easy : teams in extreme environments

Abstract

The challenges in projects are many and varied and countless reasons can lead to project failure. Project teams, operating in extreme environment face numerous challenges that can influence the progress and the team as a unit. To gain better understanding on teams and teamwork in extreme conditions, studies of teams in polar environment have been conducted for decades. The purpose of this research was to profile conflict factors within expedition teams in extreme environment, based on the five main conflict themes identified by the author. Conflict factors of seven different expedition teams were analysed and results compared in order to identify if they vary between teams, based on different compositions. The results led to author’s decision to research further conflict factors in teams based on different composition and the five main conflict themes.