Work Observer app for iPhone and iPad

The Work Activity Observer is a data collection tool to capture person-to-person and person-to-tool activities over time.

The Work Activity Observer is a research tool that allows an observer to collect longitudinal data of interactions among people, technology, and artifacts in their work environment. The tool is used to collect relational data as to who is talking to whom, who is interacting with what, the direction of information flow, and the duration of the communication events along with the ability to record contextual notes of critical events or information.

Do you have a need to:
•Understand and analyze face-to-face interactions among groups or teams?
•Collect social network analysis (SNA) or interaction data that is objectively based on observations vs. questionnaire based?
•Collect dynamic interaction data over time in a work environment to enable longitudinal analysis of those interactions?
•Expand data collection beyond person-to-person interactions to include person-to-artifact/technology?
•To reduce the data preparation and formatting required before analysis?

Type of Data Collected
•Relational data: who is talking with whom, who is interacting with what
•Directionality of the interaction
•Duration of each communication or interaction
•Notes for content or context information

Easy to use interface
•Select an icon from the agent library or use your own icons or pictures
•Spatially arrange agent icons to reflect their physical layout
•Fast tap and drag actions to make interaction observations
•Multiple sessions to organize interactions, capture breakout discussions, or specialized interactions with technology

Recorded Output
•Generates a single CSV file that includes:
•Sender & recipient
•Directed or undirected link type
•Start & end time for each interaction
•Duration of interaction
•Session number
•Session notes and comments

The comma separated value (CSV) output has been designed to work easily with a number of common Social Network Analysis (SNA) tools such as UCINET and ORA and can be easily transferred from the iPad to a computer for analysis without reformatting the data. The Work Activity Observer offers advantages in flexibility, mobility, and efficiency for longitudinal data collection focused on coordination across people and technology.

For more information and instruction on how to use the Work Activity Observer app, visit http://openvce.net/workobserver

Have a great idea or suggestion for the Work Activity Observer? Send to [email protected].