Design of an effective visualization for naval career information summary and evaluation

Abstract

By using visualization best practices and embedding them in information technology (IT), we believe that the Department of Defense can improve its ability to display multi-variant information. The focus of this research is to design a visual information solution, based on best practices for displaying performance data visually, to the Electronic Military Personnel Record System (EMPRS). Ultimately, our goal is to improve the overall effectiveness and objectivity of the Navy's selection board processes by providing a re-engineered, web-based, graphical solution to the visual displays currently in use by selection boards. The current Navy selection board voting process uses tabular forms displayed across five screens in a small theater-like setting. The forms are displayed very quickly allowing board members very little time to mentally assimilate the quantitative data dispersed over a wide area. In our model, we distill the data into a single graphical display, thus reducing the cognitive computing requirements of the board members. We used the Knowledge Value Added methodology to determine the proposal's relative effectiveness and developed a prototype as a proof of concept. With this study and follow on recommendations, we foresee a considerable improvement potential in the Navy's promotion board procedures and outcomes.