Articulation work in subsea operations: Taking teamwork seriously in assessment of subsea operations

Abstract

In this article, we visit the concept of 'articulation work' and its application in a sociotechnical system - subsea system. We analyze the teamwork in subsea operations and present that teamwork should be taken seriously in the assessment of subsea operations. We propose that teamwork is not about cooperation in a solo team; instead, teamwork in subsea operations cross the borders between teams. Moreover, a team needs to react on cooperation and be responsible for their decision-making process when subsea systems are in use. We conclude that sociotechnical systems need more attention on its development and assessment to support teamwork. Such a contribution adds literature for better understanding the Internet of things (IoT) from a social and practical perspective for the maritime domain, teamwork in particular.