Unveiling Communication Patterns: Helpful Visualizations of Communication in Online Video Conferences

Over the past few years, the number of teams collaborating through video conferences has significantly increased. The research presented in this paper addresses the question of how structural information of online communication can be visualized in a way that enables such teams to learn from it and improve their collaboration. Structural information about communication refers to interaction patterns, airtime distribution, and other data reflecting the communication dynamics of a conversation. By examining six case studies conducted using a participatory design science approach and reviewing previous research, a set of criteria was developed for creating helpful visualizations in these contexts. The data from this research shows that more helpful visualizations were also considered more complex and less easy to read. We, therefore, propose that the setting in which these visualizations are presented should be designed to ensure that the purpose and form of each graphic are adequately explained to the respective recipients. Additionally, the case studies indicated that self-organized teams have a higher affinity for more complex visualizations compared to hierarchically led teams.