Supporting Collaboration in Human-Machine Crisis Management Networks

Several parts of our modern lives are today taking place in networks where both humans and machines are key actors. With this development follows the increased need and importance of investigating related consequences and understand how we best can design technological systems to support efficient and productive human-machine networks. This paper presents the use of a human-machine network approach to nuance how we think of the interactions and collaboration that takes place in human-machine networks. Specifically, we study the complex network involved in crisis management, and show how such a network's characteristics may have implications for, and affect collaboration. The study is based on the analysis of in-depth interviews with both system provider representatives and end-users of a collaborative tool for crisis management. Three directions in which the design and development of crisis management systems should be guided are proposed.