The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Team Dynamics and Performance

By Isla Mcsherry Gunneberg

EMS300 Student Conference 2026

Slide 1: The effects of sleep deprivation on Team Dynamics and Performance. A full description follows.

Summary

The presentation examines the impact of sleep deprivation on team dynamics and performance, highlighting that sleep loss disrupts communication, collaboration, and decision-making. The study involved eight participants divided into sleep-deprived and rested groups, with findings suggesting that rested teams outperform their sleep-deprived counterparts. Key results indicate that strong roles and motivation within teams may mitigate the adverse effects of sleep deprivation. The implications for real-world teams stress the importance of aligning goals and motivation, though caution is advised regarding the generalisability of results from a short, low-risk task.