The Engagement Gap metric measures the difference between expected and actual levels of contributor engagement. The dashboard shows the ratio of the difference between the contributor who comments the most over PRs vs. the contributor who comments the least.
To illustrate the importance of the Engagement Gap Metric, consider the following example:
For an open-source project with 100 contributors but only 20 actively engaged users (e.g., responding to issues, contributing code, or participating in discussions), there is an engagement gap of 80%. This may indicate a lack of community involvement.
Performance Assessment: The Engagement Gap metric enables you to assess the project's overall engagement level by comparing it to the expected or desired level. It provides a quantitative measure of how actively contributors are participating and helps identify any gaps between the expected and actual engagement levels.
Community Health: The Engagement Gap metric provides valuable insights into the health and dynamics of the project community. Large engagement gaps may indicate potential challenges, such as communication issues, a lack of mentorship, or unclear contribution guidelines.
Targeted outreach: By analyzing the engagement gap, project maintainers can focus their outreach efforts on users who are already engaged with the project, increasing the likelihood of retaining their interest and encouraging continued participation.
How to Improve Engagement Gap?
Set Clear Expectations: Clearly define the expected engagement levels for each project to provide a benchmark for comparison.
Encourage Collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration within your team by encouraging open communication and sharing of ideas.
Provide Feedback: Regularly review the Engagement Gap metrics with your team and provide feedback on areas that need improvement.
Recognize Achievements: Acknowledge and reward team members who actively contribute to reducing the Engagement Gap, motivating others to follow suit.