Measuring Collective Cognition in Online Collaboration Venues

Abstract

By monitoring online conversations organizations can receive value from the intellectual activity of their most interested constituents as they engage in problem solving and ideation. However, since intergroup dynamics often hinders people from optimizing collaboration it should be measured and thereby monitored for quality. Current metrics assess collaborative value solely from the number of collaborators, assuming differences between individuals can be ignored. This study found that assumption to be wrongheaded by identifying three distinct collaborator segments who strongly differ in the timing of their participation and in the variety of ideas they introduce. Therefore, a new metric is proposed that takes into account the diverse value individuals add. This new measure is shown to be correlated with existing measures only in those infrequent situations when collaboration productivity is maximized.

Keywords: Electronic Commerce, Collective Cognition, E-Collaboration