STRUCTURING TIME AND TASK IN ELECTRONIC BRAINSTORMING.

Author List: Dennis, Alan R.; Aronson, Jay E.; Heninger, William G.; Walker II, Edward D.;
MIS Quarterly, 1999, Volume 23, Issue 1, Page 95-108.
There are many ways in which a group support system (GSS) can be used to support group brainstorming. This paper reports the results of an experiment that manipulated task structure and time structure. Groups electronically brainstormed on intact tasks (where all parts of the task were presented simultaneously) or on partitioned tasks (where three subcategories of the task were presented to the groups). The time periods in which groups worked were either one 30-minute time period or three 10-minute periods separated by two-minute breaks. Groups in the partitioned task treatment generated 40% more ideas, but there were no time effects. These differences are attributed to the ability of the partitioned task to refocus members' attention more evenly across the entire solution space.
Keywords: electronic brainstorming; entrainment; group support systems; Groupware; problem structure; time
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#233 0.462 group gss support groups systems brainstorming research process electronic members results paper effects individual ebs using used anonymity ideas discussion
#295 0.176 task fit tasks performance cognitive theory using support type comprehension tools tool effects effect matching types theories modification working time
#31 0.100 problem problems solution solving problem-solving solutions reasoning heuristic theorizing rules solve general generating complex example formulation heuristics effective given finding
#193 0.086 time use size second appears form larger benefits combined studies reasons selected underlying appear various significantly result include make attention
#260 0.076 policy movie demand features region effort second threshold release paid number regions analyze period respect availability released lower effect results
#244 0.070 structure integration complex business enhancement effects access extent analyzing volatile capture requires occurs pattern enables independent integrative structured decision-making costs