Team Learning in Civil–Military Collaboration Exercises

Abstract In the aftermath of the Cold War, Sweden experienced the rise of a doctrine advocating perpetual peace. This led to significant reductions in the country’s military defense capabilities and the complete dismantling of its civil defense infrastructure. However, events such as the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 prompted Sweden to reassess its security situation in 2015. Consequently, Sweden initiated the process of rebuilding what is referred to as total defense, which involves close collaboration between civilian and military defense entities. A crucial component of this rebuilding effort has been the conduct of various exercises aimed at fostering cooperation between these two sectors. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of these exercises in promoting team learning, thereby enhancing the capacity for effective civil–military collaboration. Data for this research was gathered through participant observation during seven exercises, and was subsequently analyzed using the Edmondson team learning model. The findings indicate that the team learning model demonstrates effectiveness. However, notable deficiencies were observed in terms of context support and the prevalence of defensive routines, highlighting areas for improvement in civil–military collaboration.