Team Cognitive Load: Why it matters, and how to measure and reduce it.
Tags: webdev, productivity, devops, motivation
Published: 2023-05-02 19:09:52

Team cognitive load is a term that refers to the amount of mental effort required by a team to perform its tasks effectively. It is influenced by factors such as the complexity of the problem domain, the clarity of the team's responsibilities, and the degree of automation and tooling available.
In this article, you will explore what team cognitive load is, why it matters, and how to measure and reduce it.

**What is team cognitive load?**
Cognitive load was originally defined by psychologist John Sweller as "the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory." Sweller identified three types of cognitive load:
- Intrinsic cognitive load: This relates to the inherent difficulty of the task or problem domain. For example, learning a new programming language or understanding complex business logic.
- Extraneous cognitive load: This relates to the environmental factors that make the task harder or easier. For example, having to remember a long sequence of commands or having a clear and intuitive user interface.
- Germane cognitive load: This relates to the aspects of the task that require special attention or learning. For example, applying a new design pattern or solving a novel problem.

Team cognitive load is the sum of the cognitive loads of all the team members. It depends on how well the team's responsibilities match their skills and knowledge, and how much they have to coordinate and communicate with other teams or stakeholders.

**Why does team cognitive load matter?**
Team cognitive load matters because it affects the team's performance, quality, and happiness. A team with a high cognitive load may experience:
- Reduced productivity: The team may struggle to complete their tasks efficiently and effectively, as they have to spend more time and energy on understanding and remembering information.
- Increased errors: The team may make more mistakes or overlook important details, as they have less mental capacity to check and verify their work.
- Lower motivation: The team may feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or bored, as they have less opportunity to learn new things or apply their creativity.

On the other hand, a team with a low cognitive load may experience:
- Increased productivity: The team may be able to deliver faster and better results, as they have more mental resources to focus and solve problems.
- Improved quality: The team may produce fewer defects or bugs, as they have more mental space to review and test their work.
- Higher satisfaction: The team may feel more engaged, confident, and happy, as they have more chances to master their skills and express their ideas.

**How to measure team cognitive load?**
There is no definitive way to measure team cognitive load, but there are some indicators that can help assess it. Some examples are:
- Team surveys: Asking team members to rate their perceived difficulty, stress, and enjoyment of their tasks on a scale from 1 to 10 can give an idea of their cognitive load level.
- Team feedback: Collecting feedback from team members on what they find challenging, confusing, or rewarding about their work can reveal sources of cognitive load.
- Team metrics: Tracking metrics such as cycle time, defect rate, code complexity, or customer satisfaction can provide quantitative evidence of cognitive load impact.

**How to reduce team cognitive load?**
There are several strategies that can help reduce team cognitive load. Some examples are:
- Aligning team boundaries with problem domains: Organizing teams around well-defined and cohesive domains can reduce intrinsic cognitive load by minimizing the scope and complexity of the tasks. This can be achieved by applying techniques such as domain-driven design or Team Topologies.
- Automating repetitive or tedious tasks: Automating tasks that add little value or require frequent memorization can reduce extraneous cognitive load by freeing up mental resources for more important activities. This can be achieved by using tools such as CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, or code generators.
- Providing clear and consistent documentation: Documenting tasks that require special attention or learning can reduce germane cognitive load by facilitating knowledge transfer and retention. This can be achieved by creating guides, tutorials, diagrams, or code comments.

**Conclusion**
Team cognitive load is a key factor that influences the performance and well-being of software teams. By understanding what it is, why it matters, how to measure it, and how to reduce it, teams can optimize their mental effort and deliver better outcomes.