# MetricsVis: A Visual Analytics System for Evaluating Employee Performance in Public Safety Agencies

**Authors:** Jieqiong Zhao, Morteza Karimzadeh, Luke S. Snyder, Chittayong Surakitbanharn, Zhenyu Cheryl Qian, David S. Ebert  
**arXiv:** [1907.13601](https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.13601)  
**Date:** 2019-07-31  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1907.13601v3/

## Key points

- Evaluation of employee performance in organizations with varying workloads and tasks is challenging
- Quantitative measurements of employee achievements need to align with supervisor expectations
- Main drivers of good performance need to be identified
- Complex and flexible performance evaluation metrics should be combined for accurate assessment
- MetricsVis is a visual analytics system designed for evaluating employee performance in public safety agencies
- MetricsVis consists of multiple coordinated views for dynamic evaluation and comparison
- Priority Adjustment View allows users to adjust evaluation metrics based on specific needs
- Reorderable Performance Matrix displays detailed information about individual performances for easy comparison and analysis
- Group Performance View highlights aggregate performance and individual contributions within each group or team
- Projection View identifies employees with similar specialties for efficient shift assignments and training
- MetricsVis demonstrated usability through case studies in law enforcement agencies
- MetricsVis can be adapted for use in other domains as well

## Summary

The evaluation of employee performance in organizations that have varying workloads and tasks can be a challenging task. It is crucial to understand how quantitative measurements of employee achievements align with supervisor expectations, identify the main drivers of good performance, and effectively combine complex and flexible performance evaluation metrics to accurately assess organizational performance. This enables the identification of shortcomings and the improvement of overall productivity. To facilitate this process, the authors propose MetricsVis, a visual analytics system designed specifically for evaluating employee performance in public safety agencies. MetricsVis consists of multiple coordinated views that support dynamic evaluation and comparison of individual, team, and organizational performance. The system provides four primary visual components: Priority Adjustment View; Reorderable Performance Matrix; Group Performance View; and Projection View. The Priority Adjustment View allows direct manipulation of evaluation metrics so users can adjust priorities based on their specific needs. The Reorderable Performance Matrix displays detailed information about individual employees' performances in a reorderable format for easy comparison and analysis. The Group Performance View highlights aggregate performance and individual contributions within each group or team to provide insights into both team dynamics and individual accomplishments. Finally, the Projection View illustrates employees with similar specialties to facilitate efficient shift assignments and training by identifying individuals who possess specific skills or expertise. The usability of MetricsVis is demonstrated through two case studies conducted in medium-sized law enforcement agencies which showcase how the system effectively supports performance evaluation in real-world scenarios. Furthermore, it is emphasized that MetricsVis has broader applicability beyond law enforcement agencies and can be adapted for use in other domains as well. In conclusion, MetricsVis offers a comprehensive solution for evaluating employee performance by providing intuitive visualizations that enable users to explore various aspects of individual, team, and organizational performance. By leveraging this visual analytics system organizations can identify areas for improvement and enhance overall productivity across different domains.