=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1527/paper17
|storemode=property
|title=Framework for Optimizing Collaboration using Stimulation
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1527/paper17.pdf
|volume=Vol-1527
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/simpda/Kiani15
}}
==Framework for Optimizing Collaboration using Stimulation==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1527/paper17.pdf
Framework for Optimizing Collaboration using
Stimulation
Muhammad Muneeb Kiani
National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
muneebkiani@gmail.com
Abstract. Though collaboration is an important factor in any organization’s
business cycle, but achieving collaboration is not straight forward and poses
many challenges. In order to enhance collaboration various tools and techniques
have been proposed. Proposed research work aimed at finding out elements that
can stimulate collaboration. How these stimuli can be utilized along with other
factors to positively affect collaboration is also part of project. A measurement
model is also intended to be developed under proposed work to study and opti-
mize stimuli in collaborative processes. Finally a framework which provides
basis for an adaptive environment for collaboration using stimuli and collabora-
tion measurement model has been proposed along with tool support. Validation
of proposed research work will be carried out through empirical analysis, pro-
cess mining, case studies, experimentation and other available methods. Empir-
ical analysis approach for extracting data from real world case-studies will be
used.
Keywords: Collaboration, Process mining, Data modeling
1 Research Question
Various research studies have pointed out to issues faced while enhancing collabora-
tion. These issues include lack of trust, reliability, communication gaps, organization-
al conflicts and politics, demographical issues. Collaboration related issues become
even more critical in some scenarios such as virtual teams, global software develop-
ment, online or virtual learning platforms. Collaborative activities can be influenced
by internal and external factors such as trust, technology change, and social relations.
Collaboration can be enhanced by using various techniques and technological en-
hancements. Usage of recommender systems is on such example [1] .So if the ele-
ments that can stimulate collaboration can be identified; same elements can be uti-
lized to enhance and manage collaboration. Another factor that is missing is effective
measurement of collaborative process that is necessary to understand which phase in
business cycle requires stimulus to boast collaboration. Each organization has various
processes being conducted at the same time; similarly their needs and overall struc-
ture differ significantly depending upon their respective business niche. Also due to
frequent changes in technology and inter-connective nature of the collaboration; the
collaborative activities requiring stimulus should be done in adaptive manner.
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1.1 Research Questions
RQ -1 Identification of elements that can stimulate collaboration.
RQ-2 Measuring the collaboration process to identify phases that
need stimuli
RQ-3 Developing adaptive collaboration environments able to variate the
intensity of stimuli in order to optimize the process.
Table 1. Research Questions
2 Background
Collaboration is essence of any successful organization and has various benefits par-
ticularly in team based working environment. Research studies have been conducted
to find out effect of various factors that can influence collaboration in different envi-
ronments e.g. trust [2] [3].
Open Innovation factory [4] is a research study base solution which tries to
bring open innovation in organization by extracting knowledge items which can be
used as “stimuli”. Based on these “stimuli”, recommendations are made. Open inno-
vation factory creates an environment for enhancing collaborative activities. Another
similar study which focuses on result of technology enhanced recommendation in
collaborative environments points out effectiveness of recommender systems [1].
Several authors presented results of qualitative analyses on the impact that collabora-
tion platforms have on organizations [5] [6] [7].
Collaborative Learning is an old idea which is becoming part of many edu-
cational settings [8] [9]. Research work conducted in field of collaborative learning
can be utilized in developing of other collaborative working environments as well.
Various collaborative working platforms such question and answering websites
,knowledge sharing communities like stack exchange, global software development
support environments apply various reputation building methods to increase users’
collaboration [10] [11]. Research outcomes from these paradigms can be useful in
development of proposed collaborative framework.
In order to utilize full potential of collaborative activities some kind of meas-
urement model is also required. There are various performance measurement tech-
niques are available such as e EFQM, Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma or the Perfor-
mance Prism. But there is a need to link performance measurement to collaborative
activities. [12] suggested a technique for measuring collaboration in virtual organiza-
tions which took into consideration various sub perspective like information sharing,
decision synchronization, trust, problem and conflict solving.
3 Significance
One of the most important workplace skills that organizations desire to have is col-
laboration or teamwork [13]. There are multiple reasons for giving collaboration so
much importance, e.g. resolving intra-organizational conflicts, providing more inno-
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vation and creativity in processes, services, and end products, blending complemen-
tary strength of organization, and improving learning. With advancement in infor-
mation and communication technologies, organizations are getting more reliant on
technology enhanced collaboration particularly in software and services industry.
Some of the core objectives served by proposed work are as follows:
1. To develop an environment that can help in enhancing collaboration.
2. To develop technique and system interoperable with existing solutions.
3. To develop an environment that can help organization in increasing innovation
through collaborative activities.
4 Research design and methods
3.1 Research Question # 1
From research studies it is evident that there are various factors which can influence
and sometimes increase collaboration. These factors include trust, reliability, recom-
mendations, security issues, policy changes and technology. For the factors whose
influence is not possible to validate from existing literature; experiments and empiri-
cal studies will be conducted.
Factors: Trust, Recommendation, Social Relations, Technology, Policies. Factors
influencing collaboration can be internal or external to organization
Artifacts : Artifacts are the elements which are assets which are involved during
collaboration such as documents, source code, libraries or some tangible
resources
Means: Means refer to available tools and techniques which can be applied on
factors to achieve collaboration. Means include technology enhanced
environment, social media, crowd sourcing techniques, recommender
systems etc.
Phases: Phases refer to various periods during a collaborative activity.
Actor: Actors are people or systems involved within a collaborative activity.
Trigger: Which phenomena started or ended collaboration is a trigger.
Table 2. : Elements involved in collaborative cycle
Table.2 depicts elements which are directly linked with factors influencing collabora-
tion. Based upon these elements an overall framework will be proposed.
3.2 Research Question # 2
Measuring collaboration is not an easy activity. It has been discussed earlier there are
various performance measurement techniques available which can be used in con-
junction with type of collaboration being conducted in an organization. A detailed
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study of existing performance and collaboration measurement techniques will be con-
ducted. Result of study will be compared and analyzed against various stimuli. More-
over a strategy will be devised to integrate proposed measurement methodology in
proposed collaborative environment so that effects of stimuli can be measured.
3.3 Research Question # 3
Based upon findings of RQ-1 and RQ-2, framework will be proposed which is intend-
ed to create an environment where various stimuli can be used to enhance collabora-
tion to optimum levels in adaptive manner. In proposed model users will interact with
each other using a Technology Enhanced Collaboration Systems. Proposed system
will utilize various means to stimulate collaboration; “means” include social media,
recommender systems, collaborative filtering systems, crowd sourcing, reputation
systems etc. These “means” will be directly integrated within processes. Measure-
ment model is intended to find out effects of various stimuli.
3.4 Data Collection and Analysis
Data collection will be conducted by obtaining detailed understanding of collabora-
tive architectures and also by analyzing sample applications for existing collaboration
enhancement methodologies. For the purpose of data collection, group of stakeholders
will be allowed to use application in varying circumstances so that all the situations
and scenarios of data exchange and transmission are recorded efficiently. On the front
of collaboration approaches; scientific publications and dissertations on empirical
investigation would be studied so that proper understanding of usability of such ap-
proaches could be established.
UI interaction by users can be recorded in event logs. Through application of
process mining technique, useful knowledge on actual workflows can be derived.
Using these insights not only UI can be improved by also collaborative interaction
between users can be understood. This understanding of collaborative working can be
further used to improve processes and also to measure effectiveness of proposed
methodology.
Process mining can help to find out deviation so by using process mining
technique, comparison can be drawn between intended results of stimuli against its
actual application to find out impact of stimuli. Process mining can help to discover
usage patterns and workflow to correctly understand effect of certain stimuli on users’
usage behavior against a stimulus.
4 Research stage
Initial proposal has been submitted and literature review is being conducted. Also
study of relevant system is also being done.
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