Chapter 13 Group Support Systems

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Chapter 13Group Support Systems

• Jeff Vonnahme
• BSAD 145
• Wednesday, April 10

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Outline

• Why are Group Systems Important
• Types of Group Support Systems
• Groupware on the Internet
• Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) systems
  that support decision making by more than one
  person, working together to reach a decision

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Why are Group SystemsImportant?

• Teams may be the basis for future organizations
• Peter Drucker organizations are becoming
  information basedfuture organizations will be
  composed of specialists who direct their
  performance through feedback from others
• Coordination theory may guide organizational
  design
• Malone (MIT) lessons learned about how large
  groups coordinate work can be applied to
  coordinating large groups of computing resources
• Companies want to manage knowledge
• Attempts to capture knowledge (explicit vs.
  tacit)
• The Rudy Problem

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Types of Group Support Systems

• Supporting Same Time/Same Place Groups
• Problems with meetings
• IT can help improve meetings
• Supporting Presentations and Discussions
• Davidson and Briggs Use of GSS in a
  presentation-discussion session held in a
  workshop setting
• Supporting Dispersed Groups
• Ongoing coordination by groups working at
  different times and places
• Johansens Matrix

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Groupware on the Internet

• Major uses for web-based groupware
• To support project team activities
• To support education
• To replace email listserv systems
• (Wheeler, Dennis, Press)
• Advantages Disadvantages

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CLJ

• Cio.com Real-Time Collaboration Tools
• http//www.cio.com/archive/040197/et.html
• This article looks at the increasing need for
  immediate collaboration of several people when
  making important business decisions. The answer
  for these needs? Group decision support systems.
  The author lists new technologies such as
  convergence of data, audio conferencing and
  videoconferencing as the gateway for the bringing
  together of far-away employees in real-time
  setting. While some big companies are focusing
  on GDSSs, many are adopting groupware
  applications. The most common today is
  Microsofts NetMeeting, which allows users to
  share applications and communicate in real-time
  conferences. Other companies such as 3M are
  restructuring their processes to promote
  interoperability. Technology like PictureTalk
  helps to bridge different applications among
  users, allowing different programs to
  communicate. Many companies are restructuring
  their networks to support these new technologies.
  DataBeam has developed a system that works with
  the business network to tie employees through web
  server and browser technology. Finally, new
  products such as Cybercasting will be the wave of
  the future. This application looks to erase the
  technical limitations of audio and
  videoconferencing. Whatever technology companies
  choose to implement, it should be noted that
  applications providing compatibility across PC
  vendors should be a top priority.
• "Instead of having people travel for a two- or a
  three-week course, all you really want to do is
  get people together to talk. It's not the same as
  a face-to-face experience, but it's rich and
  interesting in its own way." - Ellen Isaacs
  (Electric Communities)

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CTQ

• Supporting dispersed groups is one of the most
  promising uses for ongoing coordination by groups
  who work at different times and different places.
  This technology can be used to stretch the
  workday to round-the-clock by passing work from
  groups in one region to the next at the end of
  each ones workday. page 410
• Would passing work from one employee to another
  have a negative effect on the work being
  conducted? If so, how?
• Should large international companies restructure
  their networks to support a 24 hour
  cross-regional workday?
• Will these practices become the standard in the
  future due to the fact that companies can finish
  projects in half the time?
• Should companies consider creating branches in
  Europe and Asia to enable this competitive edge?
  
• Would these practices be particularly difficult
  to manage?

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• Any Questions?
• Thank You!!