Using embedded technology badges to derive social networks, patterns of interaction and space utilization in a corporate headquarters

Abstract

Badges developed by Hitachi High Technologies (Hitachi calls this process "Business Microscope") were used to gather interaction data, and sensors stationed in monitored locations recorded space occupancy-utilization from 25 meeting areas and 86 individual workstations in the global headquarters of a large manufacturing firm in the upper Midwest, USA. One hundred thirteen participants in 19 work groups/departments wore individual badges throughout seven work days. Social networks were derived from the interaction data (based on three-minutes cumulative interaction per day). This objective approach to deriving empirical networks and space utilization improves on many existing techniques that rely on inconsistent observation, subjective surveys, individual or group reconstruc tions (e.g., focus groups). © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.