Web-based Group Decision Support System Research Articles

Supporting Argumentation Dialogues in Group Decision Support Systems: An Approach Based on Dynamic Clustering

Group decision support systems (GDSSs) have been widely studied over the recent decades. The Web-based group decision support systems appeared to support the group decision-making process by creating the conditions for it to be effective, allowing the management and participation in the process to be carried out from any place and at any time. In GDSS, argumentation is ideal, since it makes it easier to use justifications and explanations in interactions between decision-makers so they can sustain their opinions. Aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) intends to classify opinions at the aspect level and identify the elements of an opinion. Intelligent reports for GDSS provide decision makers with accurate information about each decision-making round. Applying ABSA techniques to group decision making context results in the automatic identification of alternatives and criteria, for instance. This automatic identification is essential to reduce the time decision makers take to step themselves up on group decision support systems and to offer them various insights and knowledge on the discussion they are participating in. In this work, we propose and implement a methodology that uses an unsupervised technique and clustering to group arguments on topics around a specific alternative, for example, or a discussion comparing two alternatives. We experimented with several combinations of word embedding, dimensionality reduction techniques, and different clustering algorithms to achieve the best approach. The best method consisted of applying the KMeans++ clustering technique, using SBERT as a word embedder with UMAP dimensionality reduction. These experiments achieved a silhouette score of 0.63 with eight clusters on the baseball dataset, which wielded good cluster results based on their manual review and word clouds. We obtained a silhouette score of 0.59 with 16 clusters on the car brand dataset, which we used as an approach validation dataset. With the results of this work, intelligent reports for GDSS become even more helpful, since they can dynamically organize the conversations taking place by grouping them on the arguments used.

An intelligent web-based spatial group decision support system to investigate the role of the opponents’ modeling in urban land use planning

Urban land-use planning decisions generally require negotiation between multiple stakeholders to reach an agreement on a specific plan. Computer-aided tools such as group decision support systems can facilitate the actors in this complicated process. In the context of these systems, using software agents enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of group decision support. The software agents can perform some computational and analytical tasks on behalf of the stakeholders. In more advanced cases, the agents can also learn stakeholders’ preferences and behavior to help them make good decisions. This paper proposes an intelligent web-based spatial group decision support system to investigate the role of opponents modeling in urban land use planning by using a multi-agent system approach. For this purpose, two successive meetings are held in which the system is used: in the first meeting, the stakeholders revise the existing plans and respond to other stakeholders’ requests. During the meeting, software agents attempt to model the behavior of the stakeholders they are associated with, based on a Bayesian learning method in combination with social value orientation theory to describe stakeholders’ decision behavior in a group context. In the second meeting, the software agents help the stakeholders in the step of plan revision by providing the information obtained to the stakeholders. In an application, a comparison of the results of the meetings showed that the provided information about the opponents reduced the negotiation time and contributed to reaching a better spatial configuration of land-uses based on a criterion provided by social value orientation theory.

Adoption of web-based group decision support systems: experiences from the field and future developments

While organizations have massively adopted enterprise information systems to support business processes, business meetings in which key decisions are made about products, services and processes, are usually held without much support of information systems. This is remarkable as group decision support systems (GDSS) seems to fit for this purpose. They have existed for decades and modern versions benefit of web-based technologies, enabling low cost anyplace, any time and device independent meeting support. In this exploratory case research, we study nine organizations in four different adoption categories to learn more about the reasons for the relatively slow adoption of web-based GDSS. Using the Fit-Viability adoption framework we conduct interviews with organizations that have experience with using GDSS. We conclude that adopting GDSS requires considerable and carefully planned change of processes that are deeply grounded in the organization. Existing meeting routines need to be adapted. Introduction needs to be carefully planned and room for face-to-face meetings and creativity sessions away from the keyboard need to be built in depending on the type of meeting. Not all companies find the cost level affordable. Clear and convincing business cases are lacking. Still the added value is ranked highly and there are frequent and enthusiastic user organizations that may lead the way for others. Their success stories show others how to mitigate problems.

A paradigm shift to ethical decision-making—incorporating systemic epistemology into complex socio-technical decision support systems research

ABSTRACT Current decision support systems (DSS) research is overwhelmingly positivist and limits the adequate representation of relevant stakeholders. This crisis of relevance precludes the systemic inclusion of social and ethical issues in complex socio-technical DSS designs. For their unstable boundary conditions, such systems also require explicit coverage of their dynamics. Lending a novel perspective to DSS research, this paper proposes a framework with the new decision-making paradigm and the systemic inquiry of boundary critique to explore stakeholder perspectives for more ethically-aware DSS development. Using qualitative research, the developed framework is applied to unleash ethical issues for a dynamic and complex socio-technical university timetabling scenario implemented as a web-based group decision support system. Multiple stakeholder perspectives are recognised and analysed for boundary judgements, while a dynamic stakeholder network considers boundary liquidity and emergence. This work aims to couple systemic epistemology with the socio-technical lens to encourage the inclusion of ethical dimensions in dynamic and complex DSS designs.

Design and Development of a Group Decision Support System for the Evaluation and Selection of Research Projects

The current paper deals with the design and development of a web-based group decision support system for the evaluation and selection of research projects. The paper involves the analysis of the system’s requirements, the definition of its functional structure, the development of an algorithm for the evaluation and ranking of research projects, the development of a related database and of a user interface along with the writing of the business logic of the system.

Group decision support systems for current times: Overcoming the challenges of dispersed group decision-making

We are living a change of paradigm regarding decision-making. On the one hand, there is a growing need to make decisions in group at both professional and personal levels, on the other hand, it is increasingly difficult for decision-makers to meet at the same place and at the same time. The Web-based Group Decision Support Systems intend to overcome this limitation, allowing decision-makers to contribute to the decision process anytime and anywhere. However, they have been defined inadequately which has been compromising its success. This work discusses the current Group Decision Support Systems limitations in terms of challenges and possible impediments for their acceptance by the organizations and propose a conceptual definition of a Web-based Group Decision Support System that intends to overcome the existing limitations and help them to affirm as a reliable and useful tool. In addition, some crucial topics are addressed, such as communication and perception, that are essential and sometimes forgotten in the support of dispersed decision-makers. We concluded that there are still some limitations, mostly in terms of models and applications, that prevent the design of higher quality systems.

Smart media and application

Smart media and application

Arguing with Behavior Influence: A Model for Web-Based Group Decision Support Systems

In this work, we propose an argumentation-based dialogue model designed for Web-based Group Decision Support Systems, that considers the decision-makers’ intentions. The intentions are modeled as behavior styles which allow agents to interact with each other as humans would in face-to-face meetings. In addition, we propose a set of arguments that can be used by the agents to perform and evaluate requests, while considering the agents’ behavior style. The inclusion of decision-makers’ intentions intends to create a more reliable and realistic process. Our model proved, in different contexts, that higher levels of consensus and satisfaction are achieved when using agents modeled with behavior styles compared to agents without any features to represent the decision-makers’ intentions.

Predicting satisfaction: Perceived decision quality by decision-makers in Web-based group decision support systems

In future, the organizations’ likelihood to endure and succeed will depend greatly on the quality of every decision made. It is known that most decisions in organizations are made in group. With the purpose of supporting decision-makers anytime and anywhere, Web-based Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) have been studied. The amount of Web-based GDSS incorporating automatic negotiation mechanisms such as argumentation has been steadily increasing. Usually, these systems/models are evaluated through mathematical proofs, number of rounds or seconds to propose (reach) a solution. However, those techniques are not very informative in terms of the decision quality. Here, we propose a model that intends to predict the decision-makers’ satisfaction (perception of the decision quality), specifically designed to deal with multi-criteria problems. Our model considers aspects such as: meeting's outcomes, decision-maker's intentions, expectations and emotional cost. To validate the proposed model in terms of its ability to predict decision-makers’ satisfaction, we developed a prototype of a Web-based GDSS to be used in a case study where the participant had to make a joint decision. The decision process consisted in a set of 5 rounds, where the participant could (re)configure his/her preferences along the process. The satisfaction model ascertained its ability to predict the participants’ satisfaction and allowed to understand that (as is stated in the literature) the inclusion of cognitive and emotional variables is essential to evaluate satisfaction more accurately.

A web-based group decision support system for academic term preparation

In this paper, we present a web-based group decision support system for the Academic Term Preparation problem faced at a business school of a large Middle Eastern university. This multi-stage problem involves several stakeholders that need to coordinate for the course offerings, instructor assignments, and the preparation of the relevant timetables. This coordination is facilitated through a web application that implements all stages of the workflow. It further automates the timetabling task through an optimization module using a new multi-objective mixed integer programming model. The model is based on curriculum and student sectioning requirements; academic and administrative policies; and, the present capacity situation. The new system replaces a semi-automated spread sheet tool, resulting in improved quality of timetables, efficient workflow coordination, customized reporting, significantly reduced lead times, and eradication of human errors.

Representing decision-makers using styles of behavior: An approach designed for group decision support systems

Supporting decision-making processes when the elements of a group are geographically dispersed and on a tight schedule is a complex task. Aiming to support decision-makers anytime and anywhere, Web-based group decision support systems have been studied. However, the limitations in the decision-makers’ interactions associated to this scenario bring new challenges. In this work, we propose a set of behavioral styles from which decision-makers’ intentions can be modelled into agents. The goal is that, besides having agents represent typical preferences of the decision-makers (towards alternatives and criteria), they can also represent their intentions. To do so, we conducted a survey with 64 participants in order to find homogeneous operating values so as to numerically define the proposed behavioral styles in four dimensions. In addition, we also propose a communication model that simulates the dialogues made by decision-makers in face-to-face meetings. We developed a prototype to simulate decision scenarios and found that agents are capable of acting according to the decision-makers’ intentions and fundamentally benefit from different possible behavioral styles, just as a face-to-face meeting benefits from the heterogeneity of its participants.

A web-based group decision support system for multicriteria ranking problems

In this paper, we present an implemented, web-based multicriteria group decision support system for solving multicriteria ranking problems by a collaborative group of decision-makers in sequential or parallel coordination mode and in a distributed and asynchronous environment. This system employs an order-based consensus model for collaborative groups that moves from consistency to consensus. The system is based on consensus measures and it has been designed to provide advice to the decision-makers to increase group consensus level while maintaining the individual consistency of each decision-maker. It is based on the use of fuzzy outranking relations to model individual and group preferences. For the exploitation of the models—formulated as a multiobjective optimization problem and solved with a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm—the system generates advice on how decision-makers should change their preferences to reach a ranking of alternatives with a high degree of consistency and consensus.

An Empirical Study of the Consequences of Coordination Modes on Supporting Multicriteria Group Decision Aid Methodologies

At present, distributed group decision-making processes are common practice in networked and information-based organisations. Consequently, an adequate coordination of the activities in a multicriteria group decision process is required to ensure the success of these complicated processes. The coordination modes represent different forms of collaboration that use multicriteria decision aids to aggregate the individuals’ preferences in a consensus schema context. This paper presents the implementation of parallel and sequential coordination methods in a web-based multicriteria group decision support system. We subsequently present an empirical study of the influence of these two coordination methods on the actuation of a collaborative group decision process and the final consensual solution in the context of distributed multicriteria group decision analysis, which represent the loosest and tightest task interdependence.

Evaluating user interaction with a web-based group decision support system: A comparison between two clustering methods

Task-Technology Fit theory and the Technology Acceptance Model identify system utilization as an important indicator for the performance of complex software systems. Yet, empirical evaluations of user interaction with group decision support systems are scarce and often methodologically underdeveloped. For this study we employed an exploratory evaluation of user interaction in the context of web-based group decision support systems. Specifically, we used information-rich server logs captured through a web-based platform for participatory transportation planning to identify groups of users with similar use patterns. The groups were derived through multiple sequence alignment and hierarchical cluster analysis based on varying user activity measures. Subsequently, we assessed the reliability of the classifications obtained from the two clustering methods. Our results indicate limited reliability of classifications of activity sequences through multiple sequence alignment analysis and robust groupings from hierarchical cluster analysis for user activity initiations and durations. The presented work contributes a novel methodological framework for the evaluation of complex software systems that extends beyond the common approach of soliciting user satisfaction.

Adoption of Web-based Group Decision Support Systems: Conditions for Growth

While organizations have massively adopted enterprise information systems to support business processes, business meetings in which key decisions are made about products, services and processes are usually held without much support of information systems. This is remarkable as group decision support systems (GDSS) seems very fit for this purpose. They have existed for decades and modern versions benefit of web-based technologies, enabling low cost any-place, any time and device independent meeting support. In this exploratory case research, we study nine organizations in four different adoption categories to learn more about the reasons for the relatively slow adoption of web-based GDSS. Using the Fit-Viability adoption framework we conduct interviews with the organizations that have experience with using GDSS. We conclude that adopting GDSS requires considerable and carefully planned change of processes that are deeply grounded in the organization. Existing meeting routines need to be adapted. Introduction needs to be carefully planned and room for face-to-face meetings and creativity sessions away from the keyboard need to be built in depending on the type of meeting. Not all companies find the cost level affordable. Clear and convincing business cases are lacking. Still the added value is ranked highly and there are frequent and enthusiastic user organizations that may lead the way for others. Their success stories show others how the mitigate the afore mentioned problems

A Study Towards Improving Web-Based Collaboration Through Availability of Group Awareness Information

Group awareness can be broadly defined as consciousness and information of various aspects of the group and its members. It also refers to information received by members of a group about the other group members, about mutually employed objects, and about current group processes, in order to efficiently carry out certain tasks. The group awareness information presented in this paper is designed to capture group member activities and their behaviors in web-based collaborative work. It consists of activity, availability, and commitment/disposition information. The first two parameters appear as a visual display representing cumulative data and changes accordingly when the group begins working together. The last parameter is captured during group work and is summarized at the end of the group work task. This paper reports on the results of a study in a controlled experiment that examined group performance on a given task in a web-based group decision support system with and without group awareness information. In particular, the study examined how group awareness information impacts the quality of the work effort and a given task, group decision making by members in the same group and different groups, the communications among group members during the completion of an online collaborative authoring task, the cohesiveness among group members, and the commitment/disposition of engagement of each member of the work group.

Web-Base Group Decision Support System for Information Security Decision Making in Case of Indian E-Government Systems

This paper presents a web base multicriteria group decision support system for evaluating information security policy decision making with respect to Indian e-government system. This study first proposes a rational-political group decision-making model which identifies three uncertain factors involved in a group decision-making process: decision maker’s roles in a group reaching a satisfactory solution, preferences for alternatives and judgments for assessment criteria. Based on the model, a linguistic term oriented multi criteria group decision-making method is developed. The method uses general fuzzy number to deal with the three uncertain factors described by linguistic terms and aggregates these factors into a group satisfactory decision that is in a most acceptable degree of the group. Moreover, this study implements the method by developing a web-based group decision support system. This system allows decision makers to participate a group decision-making through the web, and manages the group decision-making process as a whole, from criteria generation, alternative evaluation, opinions interaction to decision aggregation. An information security decision making problem is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

A STUDY OF TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTAL SETTINGS FOR GROUP AWARENESS INFORMATION IN A WEB-BASED GROUP DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

Group awareness information represents things such as group members' roles and responsibilities, their positions on an issue, their status, and the state of various group processes that group members know about when they work together. The group awareness information presented in this paper is designed to capture group member activities and their behaviors in web-based collaborative work. It consists of activity, availability, and commitment/disposition information. The first two parameters appear as a visual display representing cumulative data and changes accordingly when the group begins working together. The last parameter is captured during group work and is summarized at the end of the group work task. The application of this proposed scheme was designed and implemented in a web-based group decision support system. This paper reports on the results of a study in a controlled experiment and a field test experiment that examined group performance on a given task in a web-based group decision support system with and without group awareness information. In particular, the study examined how group awareness information impacts the quality of the work effort and a given task, group decision making by members in the same group and different groups, the communications among group members during the completion of an online collaborative authoring task, the cohesiveness among group members in a web-based group decision support system, and the commitment/disposition of engagement of each member of the work group.

An Empirical Study of Group Awareness Information in a Web-Based Group Decision Support System

Group awareness information is important information for group work. It represents group members’ roles and responsibilities, their positions on an issue, their status, and the state of various group processes. The group awareness information presented in this article is designed to capture group member activities and their behaviors in web-based collaborative work. In this article, group awareness information is represented with a visual display and consists of activity and availability information. The application of this proposed scheme is designed and implemented in a web-based group decision support system. This article reports on the results of a study that examined group performance on a given task in a web-based group decision support system with and without group awareness information. The study examined how group awareness information impacts the quality of the work effort and a given task, group decision making by members in the same group and different groups, the communications among group members in the completion of an online collaborative authoring task, the cohesiveness among group members in a web-based group decision support system, and the commitment/disposition of group engagement.

The effect of using group decision support systems in value management studies: An experimental study in Hong Kong

A group decision support system (GDSS) can be helpful to VM users overcome difficulties in value management (VM) workshops. A web-based GDSS known as interactive value management system (IVMS) is introduced in this paper. A comparative experimental study is undertaken to investigate the extent to which the use of IVMS can improve the performance of VM workshops by using a competing value approach (CVA). This study compares and contrasts the performance of a traditional VM workshop with an IVMS-supported VM workshop in three aspects: (1) process measures, (2) outcome measures, and (3) participants’ satisfaction. The process measures indicate that IVMS is helpful in improving the efficiency, information reliability and supportability of decision and participation process, while the outcome measures show groups supported by IVMS perform better in ideas generations. The results also indicate that the use of GDSS results in increasing participant satisfaction.