Lessons from a Dozen Years of Group Support Systems Research: A Discussion of Lab and Field Findings

Abstract

Abstract:During the past dozen years, researchers at the University of Arizona have built six generations of group support systems software, conducted over 150 research studies, and facilitated over 4,000 projects. This article reports on lessons learned through that experience. It begins by presenting a theoretical foundation for the Groupware Grid, a tool for designing and evaluating GSS. It then reports lessons from nine key domains: (1)GSS in organizations; (2) cross-cultural and multicultural issues; (3) designing GSS software; (4) collaborative writing; (5) electronic polling; (6) GSS facilities and room design; (7) leadership and facilitation; (8) GSS in the classroom; and (9) business process reengineering.Key Words and Phrases: group decision processesgroup support systemsorganizational role of information technology Additional informationNotes on contributorsJay F. NunamakerJay F. Nunamaker is Regents Professor and Director of the Center for Management of Information at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He was a faculty member at Purdue University prior to founding the MIS department at the University of Arizona in 1974. Under his leadership for twenty years, the department has become known for its expertise in collaboration technology and the technical aspects of MIS.In 1996, Dr. Nunamaker received the DPMA EDSIG Distinguished IS Educator Award. The GroupSystems software resulting from his research received the Editor's Choice Award from PC Magazine, June 14, 1994. At the GroupWare 1993 Conference in San Jose, he received the GroupWare Achievement Award along with recognition of GroupSystems as best of show in the GDSS category. In 1992, he received the Arthur Andersen Consulting Professor of the Year award. Dr. Nunamaker received his Ph.D. in systems engineering and operations research from Case Institute of Technology, an M.S. and B.S. in engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University. He was an original member of the ISDOS project (PSL/PSA) under the direction of Professor Daniel Teichroew at Case and the University of Michigan from 1965 to 1968.Robert O. BriggsRobert O. Briggs is a research scientist in the Center for the Management of Information at the University of Arizona. He is principal investigator on several research grants concerned with crisis response and computer-supported learning in secondary schools (K—12). His research interests include many phases of group productivity, including group interfaces, electronic support for learning, and a general theory of group productivity. He received his Ph.D. in 1994 from the University of Arizona. He received his master's degree in information and decision systems from San Diego State University in 1987, and served as adjunct professor there until 1990.Daniel D. MittlemanDaniel D. Mittleman is a Research Scientist in group support systems (GSS) in the Center for the Management of Information at the University of Arizona. As a facilitator, he has guided more than 300 strategic planning, documentation, and requirements elicitation meetings over the past seven years for industry, government, and educational organizations. His research projects include development of persistent, distributed, collaborative component software on the WWW, development of GSS processes to support architectural programming, and development of technology-supported collaborative writing processes. He has published over a dozen papers in these research areas. He recently coauthored a book chapter, "The Virtual Office Work-Space: GroupSystems Web and Case Studies" with Jay Nunamaker, Nicholas Romano, and Robert Briggs. Dr. Mittleman holds an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona.Douglas R. VogelDouglas R. Vogel is Associate Professor of MIS, College of Business and Public Administration, University of Arizona, Tucson. He has been involved with computers and computer systems in various capacities for over twenty-five years. He received his M.S. in computer science from UCLA and his Ph.D. in MIS from the University of Minnesota, where he was also coordinator for the MIS Research Center. His current research interests bridge the business and academic communities in addressing questions on the impact of management information systems on interpersonal communication, group decision making, and organizational productivity.Balthazard A. PierrePierre A. B Althazard is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina, Greensboro. His research interests include collaborative technologies that support "just-in-time business," computer-supported tactical and strategic management, reengineering and business process design, influence allocation processes, and nonlinear learning environments. Recently, his work has focused on inter-and intranets, web-centric, collaboratories, virtual teamwork, and virtual classroom. He has published in International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Group Decision and Negotiation, Journal of Education for MIS, and the Journal of End-User Computing.