Effects Of Group Support Systems Research Articles

On the Measurement of Participation Equality

Participation equality is often a key process construct in research models that examine the effects of group support systems (GSS) technology and e-collaboration. GSS are generally thought to reduce the dispersion of participation among team members and thus make participation more equally distributed. However, research conclusions in the literature regarding participation equality are not always consistent with this finding. Researchers have used a variety of approaches to operationalize participation equality including unit-based measures, such as the standard deviation, and dimensionless measures such as the Gini coefficient and the coefficient of variation. Researchers have also varied in their measurement of participation units with some counting phenomena such as comments, words, or remarks. The authors report on an exploratory study that demonstrates conditions in which research conclusions regarding the participation equality construct are dependent on both the participation unit analyzed and whether a unit-based or dimensionless measure is used to compute participation equality. The authors conclude with recommendations for researchers investigating participation equality and practitioners that seek to measure and track participation equality in their collaborative work practices.

The impact of geocollaborative portals on group decision making for trip planning

The paper develops a framework evaluating the impact of geocollaborative portals (GCP) on travellers’ collaborative decision making by synthesising literature related to the effectiveness of group support systems, web 2.0 and geocollaborative technologies. The model was tested by measuring students’ perceptions, who participated in an experimental study that required them to use a GCP for collaboratively planning a trip. Students used Yahoo! Trip Planner (Y!TP) for forming groups and then for identifying, selecting and discussing the inclusion and scheduling of geo-referenced travel activities, places and itineraries on the top of a map. The findings confirmed the multidimensionality of the Y!TP's impact on collaborative decision making, but the respondents gave a greater importance to the process (i.e. effectiveness and community building) rather than the outcome impacts (efficiency and results) of Y!TP. Specifically, the findings show that GCP can effectively support and foster teamwork, when GCP are designed to scaffold the group tasks, manage group intelligence, as well as facilitate and nurture group communication and bonding processes. The outcome impacts of GCP related to both qualitative (e.g. group consensus) and quantitative items (e.g. time and effort savings). Finally, the study discusses the implications of the findings on further investigating the functionality and effectiveness of GCP.

A longitudinal study of virtual teamwork with and without group support systems

This study compares the effectiveness of Group Support Systems (GSS) versus non-GSS tools in supporting virtual teamwork. Using a field experiment, the results show that non-GSS tools sometimes are not worse than GSS for virtual teamwork. Implications from these findings are also discussed.

An Empirical Investigation of the Effects of GSS and Group Process on Group Outcome in Small Group Decision-Makings

This study examines the effects of Group Support Systems (GSS) and group process on group decision outcome. Prior GSS research largely studies group outcome and neglects to study group process in GSS use. The current research therefore intends to bridge this gap by focusing on the group process in GSS use and examining the effects of GSS and group process on group outcome. The research findings reported that GSS had an impact on both group process and group decision outcome. The implications of the research findings are discussed and future studies to GSS researchers are finally presented.

Effects of Group Support Systems and Content Facilitation on Knowledge Acquisition

This paper investigates the effects of group support systems (GSS) and content facilitation on individual knowledge acquisition in general, and on changes in an individual's knowledge structures in...

Role of GSS on collaborative problem-based learning: a study on knowledge externalisation

Based on the success of using Group Support Systems (GSS) to support collaborative work, a growing community of GSS researchers investigates the potential of GSS in business education with special attention to collaborative learning. This paper extends their works and proposes a model of collaborative problem-based learning (CPBL). Based on the proposed model, we explain the effects of GSS on CPBL in general, and externalisation of learners' contributions (initiated ideas, questions and feedback) in particular. A controlled experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of GSS on externalization of the learners' contributions in a CPBL environment. The results indicate that learners in an anonymous GSS-supported CPBL environment externalise more initiated ideas, fewer questions, and fewer but better feedback than those in a non-GSS supported one.

Did task type matter in the use of decision room GSS? A critical review and a meta-analysis

This research was undertaken to resolve inconsistent findings on the effectiveness of group support systems (GSS) by investigating the effect of task type, which is, arguably, the most important moderator variable. A qualitative review of the literature was conducted to identify task dimensions that may explain the impact of task type on the effectiveness of GSS. The relationship between task dimension and group outcome was examined. Hypotheses were then developed to predict the effectiveness of GSS in supporting the performance of various tasks. These hypotheses were statistically tested using data from 28 experimental studies in a meta-analysis. Results showed that the impact of task type was dependent on how GSS effectiveness was measured. Task type had a significant impact favoring generation tasks when GSS effectiveness was measured by improved communication, member satisfaction, and decision speed. GSS effectiveness as measured by improved decision quality and member participation was not a function of task type. The significant findings on the effect of task type point out the task dimensions that system designers should consider in order to increase the effectiveness of GSS. These findings also have implications for future GSS research in the control and measurement of the effect of task type and in the measurement of GSS effectiveness.

Task as a moderator for the effects of group support systems on group influence processes

Task as a moderator for the effects of group support systems on group influence processes

Avoidance of Groupthink

Groupthink is a problem thatplagues decision-making groups. This article reviews antecedent and procedural conditions leading to groupthink and examines productive meeting processes that can prevent groupthink. The article then explores the possible role that group support systems (GSS) may play in the development of these productive meeting processes. Group support systems are an advanced information technology that provide electronic support to groups involved in teamwork. This technology possesses certain inherent resources or structuralfeatures. This article proposes aframeworkfor the study of the effects of GSS on groupthink. It examines the effects of GSS structuralfeatures on antecedent and procedural conditions predisposing groupthink. Existing GSS research relevant to groupthink-related variables is reviewed. The review of GSS structural features and of existing GSS research indicates that GSS use might indeed be an appropriate method of preventing groupthink. Finally, the article proposes a methodologyfor the empirical study of the impact of GSS use on groupthink.

Views of work and the design and use of group support systems

The view of work embodied in a group support system constitutes a designer's understanding of how work gets done in collaborative settings. This paper argues that a designer's view of collaborative work shapes the design space of a group support system. This in turn affects the system's functionality, as well as the manner in which it is used. An analysis of the views of work underlying four group support systems used in research and commercial domains, reveals sharp differences in their perspectives on collaborative work. Our approach suggests three implications. First the design process should be driven by an explicit articulation of the view of work. Second, examining convergence between a system's view of work and the work practices of a setting, can usefully indicate whether the system is appropriate for the setting. Finally, research on the mediating role of the view of work in the effectiveness of group support systems, can lead to a richer understanding of the impact of such systems.