SCALE: Spontaneous Collaboration Assistant and Linking Engine

Static organization charts and standard processes define roles, methods, and authority in useful ways for common missions. But these same, rigid structures force the organization to behave inefficiently, often ineffectively on problems in new domains, problems requiring new coordination methods and ad hoc teams. What is needed to facilitate rapid formation of effective human networks is a system that non-invasively monitors the rich content of digital media and conversation, builds knowledge of ad hoc and potential networks, and accurately recommends new opportunities for collaboration. The proposed research addresses this need by developing the Spontaneous Collaboration Assistant and Linking Engine (SCALE), an innovative new technology that integrates three cutting-edge approaches:  Text mining of digital documents and communications to construct an organizational model of members' areas of knowledge/work and existing collaboration relationships;  Reality mining of physical interactions between people to augment the model of organizational knowledge and collaboration;  Social network analysis to identify new productivity-enhancing opportunities for spontaneous collaboration between members of the organization.