Design Of Group Decision Support Systems Research Articles

An Integrative Evaluation Framework for Determining the Value of Group Decision Support Systems

:Group-based decision-making situations are relevant to engineering management practice. To assist group decision making, specialized computer-based tools called Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) have been promoted since the late 1980s. Nevertheless, a review of the extensive research on GDSS design and evaluation reveals that an integrated framework is not available to evaluate the decision-making value of a specific GDSS. This article proposes a GDSS-value evaluation framework by considering the process of, and outcomes from, decision making together with the technical capabilities needed to provide them. The framework is implemented with an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, and its utilization is illustrated with the evaluation of three real GDSS applications. This integrative GDSS-value evaluation framework can be used by engineering managers as a tool to determine the overall decision-making value from an existing or projected GDSS with the aim of selecting the most adequate GDSS for a particular engineering management group-based decision-making situation.

Research on the Communication Barriers for Group Decision Support System

For the Group Decision Support System (GDSS), the problems of the communication barriers are presented in this paper, and the elimination of the influence of individual adaptive attitude is analyzed and studied on group decision. Moreover, a mode of communication with the purpose of reaching an effective consensus is proposed. Additionally, the technical support and network infrastructure to solve the problem are provided in the systematic design of GDSS.

Aggregation of Preferences Based on FSAM in GDSS

Aggregation plays a central role as a means of combining all opinions that are expressed by group members in a group decision support system (GDSS). In this paper, we propose a new epsiv-ASA (Aggregation based on Situation Assessment) algorithm to reflect a decision situation in the aggregation process. Although some research findings showed the importance of cultural factors in GDSS, most of them did not present how to implement cultural factors in GDSS. To handle this problem, we present a proposal for reflecting status differentials in GDSS. It may be used to reflect cultural differences in GDSS design. It is a further step toward the integration of cultural factors into existing GDSS design.

Impact of GDSS: Opening the black box

Previous research on Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) and its impacts have predominantly adopted a “black box” approach in which GDSS design or decision settings have been manipulated and the variation in their effects on decision quality, efficiency, or decision makers' attitudes have been measured. A decade of research in this area has failed to provide convergence of findings; results are mixed and to date, there is limited understanding of the phenomena. This study leans on the Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) and uses the “Faithfulness of Appropriation” (FOA) concept in the theory to explain “why” GDSS usage has resulted in such equivocal outcomes and perceptions. A process-oriented approach is taken to examine decisional outcomes in an experimental setting that uses a GDSS enriched with embedded decisional guidance. The study contributes to theory by providing better insight into the process of GDSS usage. It also indicates the need to tailor the training and decisional guidance in a manner that promotes faithful appropriation of the structure of the GDSS, thereby leading to better decision outcomes and perceptions of the decision process.

A hypermedia-based group decision support system to support collaborative medical decision-making

The systematic evolution of a hypermedia-based group decision support system (GDSS) architecture to support collaborative medical decision-making (MDM) is presented in this paper. This GDSS is for subsequent use by designers and researchers in the GDSS/medical informatics arena who can use several or parts of the presented architecture for effecting collaborative MDM. The GDSS design also supports various levels of inference-based medical support ranging from the lower diagnostic levels to the higher clinical levels. The evolution of this architecture incorporated systematic research and investigation of the basic elements of the MDM process, associated procedures, tools and the potential impact of different characteristics of medical groups. This architecture incorporates clinical reasoning and problem-solving features identified through an analysis of the schools of MDM from a GDSS perspective. Identification of inadequacies from a collaborative MDM perspective of existing GDSS research frameworks and architectures has also influenced current architecture development. The inexact nature of cognitive processes that are inherent in MDM necessitated the incorporation of “cognitive-aid structures” and the “cognitive appropriation processes” architectural components. The MEDICALWARE™ 1 1 MEDICALWARE is a trademark of Quantum Enterprises, NJ. component, integrated with a GDSS is designed to provide problem-solving support, access to clinical algorithms and procedures, expert inference support and several MDM support tools with hypermedia functionality. Hypertext templates with semantic nodes and links provide group members the ability to modify templates for accommodating expected or unexpected variations in decision-making criterion in handling a clinical case. Group members can thus ascertain whether they have followed all required procedures and algorithms, and modify diagnostic procedures if necessary. Several facets of the GDSS architecture can be prototyped and field-tested, incorporating clinical algorithms and related diagnostic support tools. The GDSS architecture presented can also be used for empirical studies in collaborative MDM.

A group decision support system design for a shiprepair facility

As organizations and enterprises become increasingly complex, fewer decisions are made by single individuals. Responsibility for organizational activities becomes diffused, resulting in more decision making that involves input from more than one individuals. Decision makers might benefit from a Decision Support System and particularly from a Group Decision Support System supported by a computer based information system. It is the purpose of this paper to describe the preliminary approach of the design of a GDSS for a Shipyard. The highly competitive and unstable area of shipbuilding industry usually requires rapid and precise decisions by the executive committee taking into account many multidisciplinary factors. We propose a generalized decision support system, which already has been applied to a medium size enterprises, for evaluating different factors and deriving the proper decision for long-planning new shipbuilding program of a shipyard.

Issues in computer and non-computer supported GDSSs

Considerable attention in recent years, especially in the US, has been paid to computer based Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS). These systems expect to capitalise on the benefits provided by computers and networks. These computer based GDSSs are heralded as being relatively new, however systems for supporting group decision making developed in the UK which use only manual methods and techniques have been available for much longer. This paper aims to examine these two types of group decision support system, and suggest a third type — that of the partially computer based system. The paper considers aspects of GDSS design such as location, flexibility of design, levels of participation in data capture, presentational difficulties, managing complexity of data, client control, and management of group dynamics. By so doing the paper aims to demonstrate that all three types of system can benefit from consideration of the other types, that each type has both positive and negative features, and that some combination of all of the types could provide groups with the best form of support.

Group decision support systems: Towards a conceptual foundation

Group decision support systems (GDSS) have been the focus of extensive research studies over the last decade. These, however, have largerly been experimental in nature and dealt mainly with students in laboratory settings. Although the significance of these studies are not questioned, the findings have sometimes been conflicting. Further, the study of GDSS is currently lacking a real conceptual foundation. This paper is an attempt to contribute to the building of a foundation for the study, design, and implementation of GDSS. An integrated framework is presented; it is sufficiently comprehensive to embody the fundamental elements of the GDSS' complex environment. Within this framework, particular emphasis is given to the social and interpersonal variables and their impact on communication requirements. The implication for the design and implementation of the GDSS is discussed.

An overview of group and organizational decision support systems

Research on group decision support systems (GDSSs) is summarized. Information needs for group and organizational decision-making are examined. GDSS design constructs are discussed. Overall GDSS evaluation issues are examined.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

An integrated framework for group decision support systems design

Proposed approaches for the development of Group Decision Support Systems (gdss) address behavioral and technical aspects of these systems. However, these approaches generally address only one of these aspects at a time. This paper reviews these approaches and suggests a framework for developing gdss based on an integrated perspective. This proposed framework is comprehensive and integrative as it combines the behavioral characteristics of group decision making with the technical specifications that drive gdss. Software design and future research issues are discussed.

A Foundation for the Study of Group Decision Support Systems

Technical developments in electronic communication, computing, and decision support, coupled with new interest on the part of organizations to improve meeting effectiveness, are spurring research in the area of group decision support systems (GDSS). A GDSS combines communication, computing, and decision support technologies to facilitate formulation and solution of unstructured problems by a group of people. This paper presents a conceptual overview of GDSS based on an information-exchange perspective of decision making, Three levels of systems are described, representing varying degrees of intervention into the decision process. Research on GDSS is conceived as evolving over time from the study of simple “shell” systems, consisting of menus of features available for selection by a group, to consideration of sophisticated rule-based systems that enable a group to pursue highly structured and novel decision paths. A multi-dimensional taxonomy of systems is proposed as an organizing framework for research in the area. Three environmental contingencies are identified as critical to GDSS design: group size, member proximity, and the task confronting the group. Potential impacts of GDSS on group processes and outcomes are discussed, and important constructs in need of study are identified.