Social Analytics of Team Interaction using Dynamic Complexity Heat Maps and Network Visualizations

Abstract: Given the increasing complexity of many sociotechnical work domains, effective teamwork has become increasingly crucial. While there is evidence that face-to-face communication contributes to effective teamwork, methods for understanding the time-varying nature and structure of team communication are limited. In this work, we combine sensor-based social analytics of Sociometric badges (Rhythm Badge) with two visualization techniques (Dynamic Complexity Heat Maps and Network Visualizations) to advance an intuitive way of understanding the dynamics of team interaction. To demonstrate the utility of our approach, we provide a case study that examines one team's interaction for a Lost at Sea simulation. We were able to recover transitions in the task and team interaction as well as uncover structural changes in team member energy and engagement, which we visualize using networks. Taken together, this work represents an important first step at optimizing team effectiveness by identifying critical transitions/events in team communication and interaction patterns.