A Fuzzy Expert System for Task Distribution in Teams under Unbalanced Workload Conditions

Inappropriate workload levels on the team members of a naval force have been detected as a problem that can threaten the performance and safety of future naval operations. A suitable distribution of tasks among the members of a team is a crucial issue in order to prevent high and low workload levels. In this paper, we propose a rule-based expert system, the task distribution expert system (TDES), which assists team leaders to manage mental workload in a team by suggesting appropriate task assignments. The TDES emulates the behavior of a team leader deciding which member of the team should perform a task and how. The system handles mental workload as an uncertain fuzzy concept comprising three fuzzy variables that represent the way mental workload affects performance. Automation issues and different recommendations for effective workload management in teams are analyzed and incorporated. A prototype demonstrates the system