The Structuring of Creative Processes using GSS: A Framework for Research.

Author List: Nagasundaram, Murli; Bostrom, Robert P.;

Journal of Management Information Systems, 1994, Volume 11, Issue 3, Page 87-114.

Radical and discontinuous change is the order of the day in the 1990s. Organizations are seeking to improve their fit with a constantly changing environment through initiatives such as business process redesign (BPR) and total quality management (TQM). Getting people to think creatively is critical to the success of these change efforts. Group Support Systems (GSS) have emerged as a potential means of supporting and augmenting creativity in the modem team-based organization. GSS research, however, has largely ignored the nature (i.e., creativity) of ideas that are generated. This paper seeks to move GSS research on idea generation beyond its previously limited focus on the quantity of ideas generated when using GSS. Drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives and research streams--creativity and idea generation, Kirton's cognitive style, GSS, and adaptive structuration theory (AST)--we distinguish between two orthogonal dimensions for measuring creativity (of ideas, individuals, and creativity processes)--creativity level and paradigm-relatedness, identify and characterize fundamental structuring mechanisms present in creativity techniques and OSS that influence one or the other dimension; and explore the implications of the above for research, design, and the targeted deployment of GSS and creativity techniques in organizations. We develop a theoretical framework of creative processes that is independent of any available or yet unforeseen technologies and techniques. The framework allows researchers and designers to examine OSS and creativity techniques at a finer level of detail than before, thereby allowing a richer understanding of how they work. This improved understanding will help organizations develop and maintain environments that foster creativity in the work force.

Keywords: brainstorming; creativity; GSS; idea generation; KAI; structuration.

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List of Topics

#142	0.292	creativity ideas idea creative individual generation techniques individuals problem support cognitive ideation stimuli memory generate enhance generated solutions solving quality
#296	0.152	collaboration support collaborative facilitation gss process processes technology group organizations engineering groupware facilitators use work tool address practitioners focused develop
#222	0.110	research researchers framework future information systems important present agenda identify areas provide understanding contributions using literature studies paper potential review
#180	0.086	multiple elements process environments complex integrated interdependencies design different developing integration order approach dialogue framework capabilities settings building focus distinct
#26	0.060	business large organizations using work changing rapidly make today's available designed need increasingly recent manage years activity important allow achieve
#18	0.057	adaptive theory structuration appropriation structures technology use theoretical ast capture believe consensus technologies offices context based initial advanced exploring findings
#185	0.054	change organizational implementation case study changes management organizations technology organization analysis successful success equilibrium radical efforts initiatives managing resistance individuals
#116	0.050	research study influence effects literature theoretical use understanding theory using impact behavior insights examine influences mechanisms specifically context perspective findings