Group decision support systems

Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) are a class of electronic meeting system, a collaboration technology designed to support meetings and group work [Dennis, A.R., George, J.F., Jessup, L.M., Nunamaker Jr., J.F., and Vogel, D.R. "Information Technology to Support Electronic Meetings" "MIS Quarterly" (12:4), pp. 591-624, Dec 1988.] . GDSS are distinct from computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) technologies as GDSS are more focused on task support, whereas CSCW tools provide general communication support [Dennis, A.R., George, J.F., Jessup, L.M., Nunamaker Jr., J.F., and Vogel, D.R. "Information Technology to Support Electronic Meetings" "MIS Quarterly" (12:4), pp. 591-624, Dec 1988.] .

were referred to as a Group Support System (GSS) or an since they shared similar foundations. However today's GDSS is characterised by being adapted for a group of people who collaborate to support integrated systems thinking for complex decision making. Participants use a common computer or network to enable collaboration.

Significant research supports measuring impacts of:
* Adapting human factors for these technologies,
* Facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, and
* Promoting effective organizational learning.

Group Decision Support Systems are categorized within a time-place paradigm.

Whether synchronous or asynchronous the systems matrix comprises:
* same time AND same place
* same time BUT different place
* different time AND different place
* different time BUT same place

Several commercial software products support GDSS practices. The Gartner Group has updated its views on GDSS and its relationship to webconferencing in a thorough document [http://www.groupsystems.com]

List of Group Decision Support Systems.
* Grouputer - Grouputer Solutions [http://www.grouputer.com]
* GroupSystems (was Ventana) [http://www.groupsystems.com]
* AnyZing - Zing Technologies
* Meetingworks [http://www.meetingworks.com]
* Facilitate.com [http://www.facilitate.com]
* MeetingDragon.com [http://www.meetingdragon.com]

References

* [http://www.praxagora.com/stevet/fdnc/ch10.html Thoughts on a Group Support System] This is Chapter 10 of The Future Does Not Compute: Transcending the Machines in Our Midst, by Stephen L. Talbott. (Sebastopol CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 1995).Hardcover, 502 pages. ISBN 1-56592-085-6

Academic work on Group Decision Support Systems was largely led in the 1980s and 1990s by the University of Minnesota (the SAMM System) and the University of Arizona (PLEXSYS, later renamed GroupSystems). The Arizona research software was spun off as Ventana Corporation (now known as GroupSystems Inc.).

The University of Arizona researchers report both benefits and costs for their electronic meeting system.(Citation
last = Nunamaker, Jr.
first = J. F.
last2 = Dennis
first2 = A. R.
last3 = Valacich
first3 = J. S.
last4 = Vogel
first4 = D. R.
last5 = George
first5 = J. F.
title = Electronic Meetings to Support Group Work
journal = Communications of the ACM
volume = 34
issue = 7
pages = 40-61
date = July
year = 1991
id = .)

The benefits, or process gains, from using a GDSS (over more traditional group techniques) are:
* More precise communication;
* Synergy: members are empowered to build on ideas of others;
* More objective evaluation of ideas;
* Stimulation of individuals to increase participation;
* Learning: group members imitate and learn from successful behaviors of others.

The costs, or process losses, from using a GDSS (instead of more traditional group techniques) are:
* More free riding;
* More information overload;
* More flaming;
* Slower feedback;
* Fewer information cues;
* Incomplete use of information.

However, the researchers found that GDSS over traditional group techniques limited or reduced the following process losses:
* Less attention blocking
* Less conformance pressure
* Less airtime fragmentation
* Less attenuation blocking
* Less socializing
* Less individual domination

* [http://www.luca.com/cpajournal/1995/dec95/f261295.htm Electronic Meeting Systems at Work] by Uday S. Murthy and L. Murphy SmithThe authors describe the guidelines and strategies for putting electronic meeting systems to work and present details and comparisons on two of the available less expensive software packages.
* [http://dssresources.com/history/dsshistory.html A Brief History of Decision Support Systems] by D. J. Power - Editor, DSSResources.COM
* [http://www.cdacmumbai.in/vidyakash/reports/cmc-report.html Current trends in Computer Mediated Collaboration] Report by Philip S Tellis, Staff Scientist, ETU Division, NCST, Juhu

ee also

* Collaboratory
* Computer-mediated communication
* Computer-supported collaboration
* Groupware
**Group decision support system (software)
** Hurricane Katrina: Redefining the Essence of Homeland Security [http://cisac.stanford.edu/events/katrina_redefining_the_essence_of_homeland_security/ (2)] (2005).
** Paul Stockton is Naval Postgraduate School Associate Provost in Monterey, California
***Systems theory
*** [http://www.answers.com/topic/thinklets thinkLets] (Wikimedia of related article that was purged.)
****Futures studies
****Futures techniques
****Global brain
****Project management
****Social network
*List of collaborative software

External links

* [http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/hbrsa/en/hbrsaLogin.jhtml;jsessionid=CCJMMFPFTKUO0AKRG5DCELQBKE12GISW;$urlparam$kNRXE2ULYRiR52NiwJYH5SF?ID=F0603D&path=arc&pubDate=March2006&referral=null&_requestid=13408 Harvard Business Review] (HBR Reprint F0603D) ;March 2006 Conversation column by Gardiner Morse: "Connecting Maverick Minds" ... Geoffrey West, president of the Santa Fe Institute, a unique research community that innovates by mixing disciplines, talks about why free thinking matters.
* [http://www.hicss.hawaii.edu/HICSS39/fcscfp.htm#Designing%20Collaboration%20Processes%20and%20Systems 2006] HICSS-39 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Whatlinkshere/Group_decision_support_systems Thinklets] (Collaboration techniques and processes)
** [http://www.hicss.hawaii.edu/hicss_34/colcfp.htm 2001] HICSS-34 Mini-Track Topics (Collaboration systems and technology)
* [http://www.hicss.hawaii.edu/hicss_29/info1a.htm#gss 1996-GSS] HICSS-29 Mini-Track Topics (Group Support Systems)
** [http://www.hicss.hawaii.edu/hicss_29/info1a.htm#gue 1996-GUE] (Groupware User Experiences)

Other links (to be sorted / annotated)

* http://www.esade.edu (currently researching GDSS)