VOSS: Designing Transparent Work Environments

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This project investigates how activity-trace information can be used to enhance social transparency in online peer-production communities, in order to support learning and knowledge sharing. Specifically, we examine whether capturing and broadcasting the actions that individuals take on electronic artifacts can support process learning about how to do a task. We conduct a series of design experiments to explore how peer access to various types of activity-trace data affects knowledge sharing. Our goal is to identify how transparent environments can be designed to capture knowledge as a side effect of peer production activity. Social technology is radically changing the nature of work. Organizations now recognize the value of social technology for increasing access to a broad range of participants but struggle with how to incorporate this technology into work environments. This project examines how "social transparency" -- visibility of others' actions on shared artifacts -- can be used to improve coordination and knowledge sharing in virtual organizations. Results will inform the design of online work environments that support professional skill development alongside collaborative peer-production activities. The project will also inform educational technology design and policy, by analyzing, predicting and explaining learning in an online community. To enhance the project's broader impact, the research team will foster dialogue with the technical community entrusted with designing online peer-production environments, to ensure that these systems support effective learning and knowledge exchange.