This paper demonstrates the importance of individual work in collaborative design meetings based on Granger’ causality and discusses how this impacts design tools and methodologies.

Based on Tucker's et al. CIAO model of globally collaborative work which allows distinguishing the main modes of interaction during a meeting, our research identifies the patterns or sequences of those interaction modes according to the Granger causality concept. Granger causality makes it possible to identify a temporal precedence of events without necessarily implying causality.

The results show that individual work plays a key role in achieving collaborative work. However, other factors such as the nature of the meetings and the objectives pursued also influence the sequences of interaction of the different modes.

These first results allow making recommendations on collaborative work methodologies and support mechanisms for collaboration. For instance, the ability of digital devices to facilitate the simultaneous individual work of participants in a collective space is a key factor and the ability to preserve sequences for individual work during a design meeting should be monitored to keep global efficiency.