An Information Model of Virtual Collaboration

This paper proposes a new model of information related to virtual collaboration, the Information Pyramid of Virtual Collaboration. It encompasses information about objects and actions that make up action patterns at different levels of granularity. Information at these levels ranges from fine-grained system events to entire work processes. Information items at a given level of the Information Pyramid are transformed to information items on the nexthigher level. The information model makes it possible to abstract from fine-grained events to large-scale work activities; it also makes it possible to drill down from larger-scale activities to their constituent smaller-scale activities. Captured information about virtual collaboration provides awareness information to others; it may also be reused when performing the same or similar work activities.