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Inclusion Network Map

Run the Inclusion Network Map MicroSim Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

This interactive network visualization compares two organizational communication structures: a segregated network where employees cluster by demographic group, and an integrated network where cross-group connections are abundant. Node colors represent demographic groups, node size represents degree centrality, and edge styling distinguishes within-group from cross-group communication.

Toggle between the two network configurations to see how structural inclusion affects centrality distribution, cross-group edge ratios, and overall integration scores. Click any node to highlight its connections and see whether they cross group boundaries.

How to Use

  • Toggle button: Click "Show Integrated" or "Show Segregated" to switch between network configurations with a smooth animated transition.
  • Hover over a node: See a tooltip with the employee's name, group, degree centrality, and integration score.
  • Click a node: Highlight all its connections, colored by same-group (gray) vs cross-group (blended color). Click again to deselect.
  • Drag nodes: Rearrange the layout by dragging any node. The force-directed simulation adjusts around your changes.
  • Metric panel (bottom-left): Shows overall integration score, cross-group edge ratio, and centrality equity ratio.
  • White border: Nodes with a thick white border have integration scores above 0.6, meaning most of their connections cross group boundaries.

Lesson Plan

Learning Objective

Students will critique an organization's inclusion patterns by examining whether the communication network integrates diverse employees or clusters them into peripheral subgroups.

Activities

  1. Compare Networks: Toggle between segregated and integrated views and note the differences in node placement and edge patterns.
  2. Read the Metrics: Compare integration scores, cross-group ratios, and equity ratios between views.
  3. Find Peripheral Nodes: In the segregated view, identify nodes with few connections and note their groups.
  4. Discussion: What organizational practices might create the segregated pattern? What interventions could move toward integration?

Assessment

  • Define network integration score and explain what values indicate inclusion vs segregation.
  • Compare the metric panels between the two configurations and interpret the differences.
  • Propose three concrete actions to improve cross-group connectivity.

References

  1. Diversity (business) - Wikipedia - Context for why network inclusion matters
  2. Homophily - Wikipedia - Explains why networks tend toward segregation without intervention