Aligning Human-Agent Teamwork Plans with Human Factors in Time-Critical Decision Making

Abstract

Human–Agent Teamwork (HAT) in high-stakes, volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments places stringent demands on the planning of context-dependent and interdependent activities. Effective planning in such environments requires explicit consideration of temporal human factors that shape both individual and team performance over time. This paper provides an overview of key human factors relevant to HAT planning and derives corresponding planning guidelines. First, three temporal mechanisms are identified at the individual level: time pressure, stress, and the timing of decisions. Second, four mechanisms affecting teamwork processes are discussed: joint decision making, work process alignment, team resilience, and meaningful human control. Based on the literature analysis and expert workshops, support functions are proposed that explicitly account for these temporal mechanisms. The synthesis resulted in six actionable guidelines for HAT planning: (1) anticipation, (2) adaptive task allocation, (3) prepared routines, (4) adaptability of informing and performing, (5) trust calibration, and (6) continuous monitoring. Together, these guidelines frame time not merely as an operational constraint but as a fundamental planning dimension for adaptive and resilient human–agent teamwork.

Keywords: Human-Agent Teamwork, Human Factors, Time Pressure, Decision-Making, Planning.

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008224