Teamwork
Strong leadership in surgery helps – most of the time
Should bosses always have their way? Not necessarily, when there are complications.
When the task is complex task, so too is the work of teams. | Image: Halfdark/Getty Images
In the operating room, highly qualified experts work together as a team. Many people think that this functions best when only one person is in charge – the surgeon. But this is only partially true, as shown by an occupational psychology study carried out jointly by FHNW and ETH Zurich.
The researchers analysed the teamwork live, during 30 surgical procedures. These were most successful when the surgeon took the leading role in the critical phase of the operation. But if unexpected complications occur, the same does not apply. In these cases, it’s important that everyone can offer up their own expertise, believes Surabhi Pasarakonda, the lead author of the study.
