The user interface in group decision support systems

Abstract

The human interface is a critical success factor for group decision support systems (GDSS). The user interface design problem for such systems is more complex than that for individual work stations because it involves consideration of the public and private screens and their interactions, the physical environment of the facility, the response time of the network, and the cognitive style and cultural differences among users. This paper explores five interface design issues that are specific to decision support systems for groups: the design of the public scree; the interaction between the private screens and the public screen; the design of the individual's interaction with the system as a whole; the effects of varying cognitive style, and the implications of cultural differences among participants particularly in international GDSS. The design issues are illustrated by the interfaces provided in four experimental GDSS's (U. of Arizona, Claremont Graduate School, U. of Minnesota, and XEROX PARC). These systems are all of the single room type, where participants are present at the same time. The interfaces described range in approach from simple listings, to conventional microcomputer interface, to near type writerless interfaces using touchscreens, to a highly sophisticated “what you see is what I see” (WYSIWIS).