The key role of visual coordination in the formation of collective routinized actions

Abstract Using the theoretical framework of joint actions, here we hypothesize that routines’ formation is regulated by visual coordination and task difficulty. We conducted a laboratory experiment manipulating the availability of visual information and the difficulty of routinization. The presence of visual information allowed participants to reach the game’s goal faster, although the performance was less accurate. Task difficulty had a limited impact. Overall, visual coordination appears to regulate the speed–accuracy trade-off of routines, playing a pivotal role in complex joint actions.