Group Support Systems Research Articles

Empowering Pacific Patients on the Weight Loss Surgery Pathway: A Co-designed Evaluation Study

PurposeDespite having the highest medical needs by population for weight loss treatment, Pacific patients in Aotearoa New Zealand face substantial levels of attrition in publicly funded weight loss surgery programs. In collaboration with the Auckland City Hospital bariatric surgery team, a Pacific-led preoperative weight loss surgery program was co-designed, delivered, and evaluated between 2020 and 2023.Materials and MethodsThis was a single-arm, prospective co-designed evaluation study that took place at Auckland City Hospital in Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants were Pacific patients (n = 14) referred to the weight loss surgery program. Survey and video diaries were analyzed to determine if the program had the potential to increase Pacific patient retention through the preoperative stage of weight loss surgery, increase surgery completion rates, and improve the quality of treatment experiences.ResultsNine out of 14 participants attended all preoperative sessions. Six participants subsequently underwent weight loss surgery. Program components that had positive impacts on patient success and satisfaction were accessibility, information quality, having Pacific role models, cultural safety, and the group support system. The patients found the program to be culturally anchored and there was support for the implementation of the program going forward.ConclusionThis study demonstrated how a culturally anchored intervention can increase patient retention for those patients who may not respond to mainstream treatment. Adjusting existing preoperative weight loss surgery programs to integrate Pacific-led models of healthcare has the potential to increase Pacific patient resiliency to follow through with surgery.Graphical

Assessing the role of blockchain technology for marine bunkering operations – A case study of task technology fit

Technology adoption is vital for improving the efficiency of workflows across value chains. However, technology selection can be challenging, especially for multi-party workflows across different geographical boundaries. The chosen technologies must satisfy the requirements of the tasks at hand and align with international and local laws and regulations. Marine bunkering is a global industry comprising multiple stakeholders with diverse roles and responsibilities that must adhere to global standards and regulations. Through a single case study, we endeavor to understand the role of blockchain technology in marine bunkering, drawing on the Task-Technology Fit theory and Group Support System model to investigate this concept. Our analysis reveals that fit depends on underlying legal norms, task characteristics, and technological properties. Furthermore, we shed light on the blockchain framework used and the role of smart contracts in the value chain. Our research offers insights into an extended Task-Technology Fit theory where stakeholders in a value chain are distributed across multiple geographical boundaries.

사회과학 연구집단 지원시스템 국제 비교: 한국, 독일, 일본을 중심으로

사회과학 연구집단 지원시스템 국제 비교: 한국, 독일, 일본을 중심으로

Is online collaboration process suitable for digital youth organization? A design approach

PurposeCollaboration is significant but difficult for the development of youth organizations, this research aims to explore whether the online collaboration process is suitable for youth organizations' collaboration and improve their effectiveness and efficiency.Design/methodology/approachThis research has applied a design approach using the collaboration engineering method, to design an online collaboration process for youth organizations to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Using a self-developed group support systems (GSS) tool, the authors have tested the new collaboration process through an experiment among four youth organizations and conducted a survey afterwards.FindingsThe new process improves the collaboration effectiveness and efficiency. The research also identifies the detailed relationships among influencing factors in the online collaboration process.Originality/valueThere is little research in the context of computer mediated youth organization collaboration. This research designs an online collaboration process for the effective and efficient collaboration of youth organizations and has it tested among representative youth organizations, providing practical instructions for digital youth organization collaboration in the context of global pandemic.

Parental concerns during COVID-19-related school closures: children’s behaviors and media usage

IntroductionCoronavirus Disease 2019 has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures. Concerns regarding COVID-19 school closures often increase stress levels in parents.ObjectivesThis study examined whether higher levels of parental concerns were associated with children’s problematic behaviors and other factors during COVID-19-related primary school closures.MethodsParticipants were 217 parents who responded to a web-based questionnaire covering parental concerns, subjective stress, and depression; children’s sleep patterns, behavioral problems, and changes in activity level after COVID-19; previously received mental health services; and media usage during the online-only class period from community center in Suwon city.ResultsThe number of parental concerns was associated with children’s behavioral problem index (BPI) score (Pearson correlation 0.211, p < 0.01), sleep problems (0.183, p < 0.01), increased smartphone usage (0.166, p < 0.05), increased TV usage (0.187, p < 0.01), parents’ subjective stress levels (0.168, p < 0.05), and parental depression (0.200, p < 0.01). In families with children who previously received mental health services, the children reportedly suffered from more sleep and behavioral problems but not increased media usage, and parents noted more stress and depression. Parental concerns are related to family factors such as change of caregiver, no available caregiver, decreased household income, and recent adverse life events. Economically vulnerable people also reported higher rates of reported caregiver burden during COVID-19-related primary school closures, thus will require the potential heightened mental health needs.ConclusionsOngoing monitoring of mental health at risky group and multiple support systems should be considered for parents having difficulty in caring their children.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Preferences of people living with HIV for differentiated care models in Kenya: A discrete choice experiment.

To improve retention on HIV treatment in Africa, public health programs are promoting a family of innovations to service delivery-referred to as "differentiated service delivery" (DSD) models-which seek to better meet the needs of both systems and patients by reducing unnecessary encounters, expanding access, and incorporating peers and patients in patient care. Data on the relative desirability of different models to target populations, which is currently sparse, can help guide prioritization of specific models during scale-up. We conducted a discrete choice experiment to assess patient preferences for various characteristics of treatment services. Clinically stable people living with HIV were recruited from an HIV clinic in Kisumu, Kenya. We selected seven attributes of DSD models drawn from literature review and previous qualitative work. We created a balanced and orthogonal design to identify main term effects. A total of ten choice tasks were solicited per respondent. We calculated relative utility (RU) for each attribute level, a numerical representation of the strength of patient preference. Data were analyzed using a Hierarchical Bayesian model via Sawtooth Software. One hundred and four respondents (37.5% men, 41.1 years mean age) preferred receiving care at a health facility, compared with home-delivery or a community meeting point (RU = 69.3, -16.2, and -53.1, respectively; p << 0.05); receiving those services from clinicians and pharmacists-as opposed to lay health workers or peers (RU = 21.5, 5.9, -24.5; p < 0.05); and preferred an individual support system over a group support system (RU = 15.0 and 4.2; p < 0.05). Likewise, patients strongly preferred longer intervals between both clinical reviews (RU = 40.1 and -50.7 for 6- and 1-month spacing, respectively; p < 0.05) and between ART collections (RU = 33.6 and -49.5 for 6- and1-month spacing, respectively; p < 0.05). Although health systems find community- and peer-based DSD models attractive, clinically stable patients expressed a preference for facility-based care as long as clinical visits were extended to biannual. These data suggest that multi-month scripting and fast-track models best align with patient preferences, an insight which can help prioritize use of different DSD models in the region.

Progress in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure treatment in China: A large, multicenter, retrospective cohort study using a propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundHepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) has a high short-term mortality. However, the treatment progression for HBV-ACLF in China in the past decade has not been well characterized. The present study aimed to determine whether the HBV-ACLF treatment has significantly improved during the past decade. MethodsThis study retrospectively compared short-term (28/56 days) survival rates of two different nationwide cohorts (cohort I: 2008-2011 and cohort II: 2012-2015). Eligible HBV-ACLF patients were enrolled retrospectively. Patients in the cohorts I and II were assigned either to the standard medical therapy (SMT) group (cohort I-SMT, cohort II-SMT) or artificial liver support system (ALSS) group (cohort I-ALSS, cohort II-ALSS). Propensity score matching analysis was conducted to eliminate baseline differences, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent factors for 28-day survival. ResultsShort-term (28/56 days) survival rates were significantly higher in the ALSS group than those in the SMT group (P < 0.05) and were higher in the cohort II than those in the cohort I (P < 0.001). After propensity score matching, short-term (28/56 days) survival rates were higher in the cohort II than those in the cohort I for both SMT (60.7% vs. 53.0%, 50.0% vs. 39.8%, P < 0.05) and ALSS (66.1% vs. 56.5%, 53.0% vs. 44.4%, P < 0.05) treatments. The 28-day survival rate was higher in patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs than in patients without such treatments (P = 0.046). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ALSS (OR = 0.962, 95% CI: 0.951-0.973, P = 0.038), nucleos(t)ide analogs (OR = 0.927, 95% CI: 0.871-0.983, P = 0.046), old age (OR = 1.028, 95% CI: 1.015-1.041, P < 0.001), total bilirubin (OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001-1.003, P = 0.004), INR (OR = 1.569, 95% CI: 1.044-2.358, P < 0.001), COSSH-ACLF grade (OR = 2.683, 95% CI: 1.792-4.017, P < 0.001), and albumin (OR = 0.952, 95% CI: 0.924-0.982, P = 0.002) were independent factors for 28-day mortality. ConclusionsThe treatment for patients with HBV-ACLF has improved in the past decade.

Parental concerns during COVID-19-related school closures: Children’s behaviors and media usage

Introduction While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads across the globe, many countries have closed schools to ensure physical distancing to slow transmission and ease the burden on health systems. Concerns regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) school closures often increase stress levels in parents.Objectives This study examined whether higher levels of parental concerns were associated with children’s problematic behaviors and other factors during COVID-19-related primary school closures.MethodsParticipants were 217 parents who responded to a web-based questionnaire covering parental concerns, subjective stress, and depression; children’s sleep patterns, behavioral problems, and changes in activity level after COVID-19; previously received mental health services; and media usage during the online-only class period from community center in Suwon city.ResultsThe number of parental concerns was associated with children’s behavioral problem index (BPI) score (Pearson correlation 0.211, p &lt; 0.01), sleep problems (0.183, p &lt; 0.01), increased smartphone usage (0.166, p &lt; 0.05), increased TV usage (0.187, p &lt; 0.01), parents’ subjective stress levels (0.168, p &lt; 0.05), and parental depression (0.200, p &lt; 0.01). In families with children who previously received mental health services, the children reportedly suffered from more sleep and behavioral problems but not increased media usage, and parents noted more stress and depression. Parental concerns are related to family factors such as change of caregiver, no available caregiver, decreased household income, and recent adverse life events.ConclusionsOngoing monitoring of mental health at risky group and multiple support systems should be considered for parents having difficulty in caring their children.

Progress in HBV Related Liver Failure Treatment in China: A Large, Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study

Background & Aims: HBV related liver failure is a complicated syndrome with a high short-term mortality rate. We collected clinical data from a representative sample of the China population from a number of centers, to explore how treatment of HBV related liver failure in the past decade has developed. Methods: Cohort I data were from 2007 to 2011 and cohort II data were from 2012 to 2016. Patients with HBV related liver failure were enrolled retrospectively. Patients of both cohorts were assigned to standard medical therapy (SMT) group (cohort I-SMT; cohort II-SMT) and artificial liver support system (ALS) group (cohort I-ALS; cohort II-ALS). Propensity score matching analysis was used to eliminate the baseline differences between these groups. The short-term (28/56 days) survival rates were compared between the two cohorts. Results: The short-term (28/56 days) survival rate was higher in ALS group than SMT group (60.0%vs 54.8%; 47.5% vs 42.8%, p < 0.05, respectively). The short-term (28/56 days) survival rates were higher in cohort II than cohort I (63.2% vs 54.4%; 51.1% vs 41.2%, p < 0.001, respectively). After propensity score matching, the short-term (28/56 days) survival rates were higher in cohort II than cohort I for both SMT treatment (60.7% vs 53%; 50% vs 39.8%, p < 0.05) and ALS treatment (66.1% vs 56.5%; 53% vs 44.4%, p < 0.05). The short-term (28/56 days) survival rate was higher treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues than without nucleos(t)ide analogues. Conclusions: By analyzing nationwide data from China, we found that treatment for HBV related liver failure has progress in the past decade and that antiviral and ALS treatment can significantly reduce mortality. Funding Statement: This project was funded in part by the Science & Technology Key Program of Zhejiang China, No.#2017C03051. Declaration of Interests: The authors stated: None declared. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China. Appropriate approvals were obtained from patients or their legal surrogates before enrollment.

Knowledge Acquisition Using Group Support Systems

This paper reports on a project in which a group support system (GSS) equipped with a causal mapping facility was used to acquire knowledge from experts in seven European cities in order to understand the systemicity of risks which cities may face. The practical constraints demanded that participants’ experience and wisdom about the city risk environment was collected in a short period of time: three 1-day workshops. The acquisition of knowledge posed a number of important epistemological challenges which are explored in our discussion. The GSS was faced with the need to (1) facilitate sharing of knowledge with others, (2) manage the complexity of expert knowledge, (3) acknowledge the time demands on experts, (4) manage and merge multiple perspectives, and (5) acknowledge the subjectivity of knowledge in this domain. By discussing how the GSS process attended directly to these epistemological issues and to methodological considerations that linked to these issues, the paper contributes to a better understanding of the application of GSS for knowledge acquisition, particularly in comparison with other possible methods.

Exploring the Effects of Team Collaborative Norms and Team Identification on the Quality of Individuals' Knowledge Contribution in Teams

Organizations use teams to generate novelty and useful ideas; thus, studying knowledge sharing in a team setting is important. It is essential to understand what and which factors drive the team members' high-quality knowledge contribution in a team meeting. Drawing on theories of social exchange and social capital, this paper proposes and empirically tests how an individual's cost-benefit factors and team contextual factors interact in increasing the quality of knowledge contribution in an expanded group support system meeting; additionally, a laboratory experiment with 146 participants across 30 teams was conducted to test out the proposed research model. According to the results, team collaborative norms, team identification, and enjoyment in helping others are critical predictors of the quality of individuals' knowledge contributions in a team setting environment. Team collaborative norms and identification are also critical moderators of the quality of individuals' knowledge contributions. Specifically, when weak team collaborative norms exist, loss of knowledge power inhibits contributions of useful knowledge, and the reciprocity benefit motivates contributions of useful knowledge. Further, when weak team identification exists, codification effort inhibits contributions of useful knowledge, and economic reward motivates contributions of useful knowledge. These findings have significant implications for future research and practice.

One for all and all for one - towards a framework for collaboration support systems

To reach their goals, companies are on a never-ending search to find new methods for innovation. In order to tackle the complex problems, which cannot be solved by a single person, the implementation of teamwork is assumed to be applicable. With this paper, we propose a framework for Collaboration Support Systems, which aims to enhance team performance. We outline the differences between teams and groups and examine collective processes that on the one hand benefit from additional knowledge and mutual stimulation, but on the other hand are negatively influenced by various cognitive and social factors. With basic principles of collaboration, we seek to tackle the negative effects of team performance and try to further enhance the benefits of collective work. In this context, we analyzed group support systems and unified research and practice of various disciplines (like collaborative problem-solving, collaborative decision making, collaborative creativity and collaborative learning), in order to develop a framework for Collaboration Support Systems. Our paper addresses on-going topics (like anonymity in collaboration systems) and presents design principles for software engineers. Based on a comprehensive literature analysis, we introduce several principles and aspects for collaboration systems that can help to better understand collaboration in teams. However, to thoroughly understand the phenomenon of digital collaboration, further research is needed.

On Exploring Research Methods for Business Information Security Alignment and Artefact Engineering

This paper examines research methods for designing and engineering a Business Information Security (BIS) artefact. Preventing and responding to cybercrime is becoming an integral part of management practices which are supervised by the Board of Directors (BoD), and it can no longer be perceived as just traditional IT. In order to improve the maturity of business information security a transformation is needed and this requires adequate reporting and dashboarding. Dashboard functions such as the current versus the desired state of the Maturity of Business Information Security (MBIS) reflect certain parameters that boards can influence. Determining the key dashboard functions that reflect these parameters of control was the main motivation for this research paper and the ultimate goal was to engineer a BIS artefact. We propose a research and design method that could be used to establish an experimental dashboard with initial parameters of control based on a Group Support System (GSS) approach. Finally, GSS is evaluated as a method for a) examining which parameters are effective for BIS, from multiple perspectives and b) helping to implement the artefact (make it fit the purpose) as well as the associated business alignment and decision-making.

Novel Approach to Facilitating Tradeoff Multi-Objective Grouping Optimization

The grouping problem is critical in collaborative learning (CL) because of the complexity and difficulty in adequate grouping, based on various grouping criteria and numerous learners. Previous studies have paid attention to certain research questions, and the consideration for a number of learner characteristics has arisen. Such a multi-objective grouping problem is with conflicting grouping objectives, involving the benefit objective (e.g. learning achievement) and cost objective (e.g. class rank) which are conflicting in different directions. This study first proposed a novel approach based on the enhancement of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for facilitating the tradeoff multi-objective grouping optimization, and based on the proposed approach further developed a web-based group support system to help educators for adequate grouping of homogeneous inter-group and heterogeneous intra-group. In addition, the distribution of learners in the class was considered for group formation. Two types of experiments were conducted; one involved a performance analysis against a GA and the Random approach, and the other entailed a study on CL with 90 participants. The experimental results showed the following: 1) The proposed approach is not only more effective than a GA and the Random approach but also more efficient than a GA. 2) As a grouping strategy, the proposed approach can facilitate improved learning performance with statistical significance; in other words, the developed system is able to adequately allocate learners to teams for facilitating CL.

Accelerated Multi-Organization Conflict Resolution

In this paper, we discuss two situations where two organizations with different aims recognized the dysfunctionality of their relationship. In each of these cases, which were long running (6–8 months), the organizations had worked hard to resolve this dysfunctionality, and conflict, by organizing off-site meetings designed to resolve the conflict. These 1-day meetings failed. Subsequently Group Support System workshops were used for 1 day workshops and in each case the conflict was essentially resolved within 55 min. The research reported in this paper seeks to answer the question: what happened in these cases that led to a resolution of the conflict in such a short time period, given other attempts had failed? Specifically the paper explores the impact of the GSS used to facilitate two organizations seeking to resolve a conflictual situation.

Group support system and explanatory feedback: An experimental study of mitigating halo effect

Comprehensive assessment potentially leads to halo effect that will affect accuracy of auditors decision-making process. Biased initial audit decision will potentially influence final audit decision. It is there-fore necessary to mitigate halo effect that is the consequence of auditors good impression on clients initial condition. This re-search aims to empirically show that halo effect can be mitigated by explanatory feedback and Group Support System (GSS). The researchers experimentally mani-pulate explanatory feedback and GSS using online web-site. The subjects are stu-dents who have already taken auditing courses. The results show that: 1) explanato-ry feedback can mitigate halo effect so that audit decision will be more accurate 2) GSS can also mitigate halo effect 3) explanatory feedback and GSS are the best me-thods to mitigate halo effect.

A synthetic method for knowledge management performance evaluation based on triangular fuzzy number and group support systems

The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic method to solve knowledge management performance evaluation (KMPE) problems. This method includes an integrated evaluation process starting from the measurement to the output of KMPE and combines subjective and objective indicators together. Firstly, we established an index system, involving the process of knowledge management, the organizational knowledge structure, economic benefits and efficiency. And based on this index system, a synthetic evaluation method is presented, using triangular fuzzy number to measure indexes and facilitating the KMPE with a group support system (GSS). To know better of the proposed method, we have an example to illustrate. Finally, the empirical study conducted in this paper indicates that the evaluation method has strong practicability and operability. Besides, the evaluation is enabled by using a group support system: the more objective scoring can be achieved due to synchronic/asynchronous and anonymous participation; Decision-makers improve their efficiency by the clear demonstration analysis results. The systematic method of KMPE based on the index system is able to improve organizations’ efficiency in performance evaluation process.

Decision model for complex group argumentation

This paper reports on a decision-making model that can be used for group argumentation when decisions contain twofold complexities: the problem itself and the people (i.e., the decision makers). Related studies have been well documented in literature; however, research on the group mechanism remains limited with regard to two aspects: (1) the complexities of problems and people and (2) the interaction manners of opinions derived from people. In this study, we develop a mechanism called the complex group argumentation (CGA) framework for group decision making. This solution applies the classic methodology of system designs, that is, qualitative-to-quantitative metasynthesis, and contains two core processes, namely, complexity resolution and group argumentation. From a practical perspective, we evaluate the performance of the CGA framework in the context of supplier selection (SS). Results show that our approach can satisfy the requirements of practical SS, while simultaneously coping with the disadvantages of real-world complex GDM. The results of this research can inspire studies on group argumentation in academics and provide proposals for mechanisms on the development of group support systems in the industrial community.

Interview with Jay Nunamaker on “Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing”

Jay F. Nunamaker Jr. is Regents Professor and Soldwedel Professor at the University of Arizona. He founded the MIS department at University of Arizona in 1974, and the Center for the Management of Information in 1985. Dr. Nunamaker has over 40 years of experience in analyzing, designing, testing, evaluating, and developing information systems. His multidisciplinary research is built on a foundation of computer supported collaboration, decision support, deception detection and determination of intent. Nunamaker’s research has led to major breakthroughs in collaboration, decision support systems, and automated systems analysis and design. He is known for developing generalizable solutions to important classes of unsolved real-world problems, and testing his systems with scientific rigor. He was elected a fellow of the Association for Information Systems in 2000, and in 2002, he was the recipient of the LEO (lifetime achievement) Award from the Association of Information Systems, at ICIS in Barcelona, Spain. In a 2005 article in Communications of the Association for Information Systems, he was recognized as one of the most productive information systems researchers, ranking no. 4–6 for the period from 1991–2003 based on the number of papers in top IS journals. He received his Ph.D. in systems engineering and operations research from Case Western Reserve University. BISE: You were a pioneer in the field of group support systems. What do you see as some of the major accomplishments of the early years of collaboration systems, CSCW, and Social media? Nunamaker: Perhaps the most fundamental breakthrough was conceptual – the notion that teams could use technologies in ways that made them more successful. Once we had the concept, there were a lot of opportunities to explore. A lot of studies showed that groups using group support systems (GSS) could cut their project cycle times by 90 %, and cut labor hours by 50 %, while producing higher-quality deliverables. You may have heard the old saying, ‘‘Faster, better, cheaper – you can have any two, but you can’t have all three.’’ Well, collaborative work with GSS could faster, better, and cheaper – so it was a paradigm shift. Prof. R. O. Briggs (&) College of Business Administration, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-8230, USA e-mail: rbriggs@mail.sdsu.edu URL: http://cbaweb.sdsu.edu/faculty/profile/Robert-O.-Briggs

Design and evaluation of a group support system supported process to resolve cognitive conflicts

It is commonplace to have teams of employees working together in the workplace based on the belief that the exchange and leveraging of ideas can result in superior performance. Teams are typically comprised of individuals who come from different backgrounds, have varied experiences, knowledge and values, which they can use to address the tasks at hand. Such differences, however, can also result in conflicts within the team which can be detrimental to team performance. Among the different types of conflict, cognitive conflict is not the outcome of conflict of interest; rather the team members view a task from different perspectives even when they have similar interests in achieving an outcome. We propose and test a group judgment making process architecture supported by group support system (GSS) that we argue will reduce cognitive conflicts and result in solutions that the group members can understand and agree on. It utilizes the multi-attribute utility (MAU) multicriteria decision making technique to structure information and also includes a mechanism for incorporating participant feedback at various stages of the process that should contribute to participants being better able to share values, experiences, and information and obtain a better understanding of the trade-offs that need to be made. When we compared our group judgment making process to a conventional face-to-face group meeting approach as well as a GSS supported process without any required structured decision making process, we found it to be more effective based on four measures of attitude towards the formed group judgment.