The Effects of Decision Guidance and Problem Modeling on Group Decision-Making.

Author List: BARKHI, REZA;
Journal of Management Information Systems, 2001, Volume 18, Issue 3, Page 259-282.
Despite the advances in group decision support system (GDSS) research, few GDSS studies concentrate on problem-modeling tools to support decisions that cross boundaries of functional areas within the business. These decisions have a substantial effect on the profitability of the firm and account for much time and effort of senior management. This research investigates the effect of problem structuring and modeling with a GDSS on coordinated decision-making of managers in a group faced with a mixed-motive production-planning task. In a laboratory experiment, a GDSS with features supporting problem modeling is contrasted with a GDSS without such features. The results indicate that the groups using a GDSS with a problem-modeling tool outperformed the groups using a GDSS without a problem-modeling tool, but they were less efficient with respect to the time and number of messages it takes the group to converge to a final solution. User confidence in the solution did not differ between the two groups. The results of this study indicate that the problem modeling feature of a GDSS significantly influences group decision process and outcomes.
Keywords: group decision support systems; human-computer interaction; problem modeling.
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List of Topics

#257 0.313 group support groups meeting gdss decision systems meetings technology study electronic ems task process communication computer-supported outcomes quality consensus face-to-face
#8 0.127 decision making decisions decision-making makers use quality improve performance managers process better results time managerial task significantly help indicate maker
#31 0.127 problem problems solution solving problem-solving solutions reasoning heuristic theorizing rules solve general generating complex example formulation heuristics effective given finding
#9 0.096 using subjects results study experiment did conducted task time used experienced use preference experimental presented decision-making empirical significantly effects better
#283 0.086 interface user users interaction design visual interfaces human-computer navigation human need cues studies guidelines laboratory functional developed restricted know guided
#184 0.066 modeling models model business research paradigm components using representation extension logical set existing way aspects issues current integrated languages traditional