Forming Diverse Teams Based on Members’ Social Networks: A Genetic Algorithm Approach

Archan Das, Diego Gómez-Zará*, Noshir Contractor

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous research shows that diverse teams in background and skills can outperform homogeneous teams. However, people often prefer to work with others who are similar and familiar and fail to assemble teams with high diversity levels. We propose a team formation algorithm that suggests diverse teams based on individuals’ social networks, allowing them to keep high familiarity levels. Our novel algorithm is based on the NSGA-II genetic optimization that splits students into well-connected and diverse teams within an organizational network. It optimizes measures of team communication cost and diversity in O(n2) time. The optimization finds Pareto optimal solutions that optimize both metrics, returning teams that have both diversity in member attributes and previous connections between members. We tested the algorithm on real team formation data collected from the MyDreamTeam platform. The solutions provided by the algorithm are superior to the teams assembled by the students, in both diversity and communication cost measures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationComplex Networks and Their Applications IX - Volume 2, Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Complex Networks and Their Applications COMPLEX NETWORKS 2020
EditorsRosa M. Benito, Chantal Cherifi, Hocine Cherifi, Esteban Moro, Luis Mateus Rocha, Marta Sales-Pardo
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages346-357
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9783030653507
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event9th International Conference on Complex Networks and their Applications, COMPLEX NETWORKS 2020 - Madrid, Spain
Duration: Dec 1 2020Dec 3 2020

Publication series

NameStudies in Computational Intelligence
Volume944
ISSN (Print)1860-949X
ISSN (Electronic)1860-9503

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Complex Networks and their Applications, COMPLEX NETWORKS 2020
Country/TerritorySpain
CityMadrid
Period12/1/2012/3/20

Keywords

  • Diversity
  • Genetic algorithms
  • Social networks
  • Team formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence

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