Group Decision Support Systems

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

What is a Group ?
Refers to two or more individuals
whose mission is to perform some
task and who act as one unit
Can be permanent or temporary
In one location or in several
locations
Can meet concurrently or at
different time
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Group
Group:
Collection of individuals in which
behavior and/or performance of one
member is influenced by behavior
and/or performance of other
members. (Gibson, 1991)

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Benefits of Groups
Better than individuals at
understanding problems
People are accountable for decisions
that they participate in
Better at catching errors
Has more information (knowledge)
than any one member
more alternatives ==> better solutions
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Problems with Groups

Groupthink -- social pressures to
conform
people begin to think alike and new
ideas are not tolerated

Time-consuming, slow process

Problems in coordination/poor
planning

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Group Decision Support

Systems

A DSS whose design, structure, and usage reflect

the way in which people cooperate to make a
particular decision or type of decision
An interactive, computer-based system which
facilitates the solution of unstructured problems
by a set of decision makers working together as
a group
Consisting of a set of software, hardware,
language components, and procedures that
support a group of people engaged in a decisionrelated meeting

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Group Decision Support

Systems (GDSS)
Group Support Systems (GSS)
Electronic Meeting Systems
Collaborative Computing
Evolved as information technology researchers
recognized that technology could be
developed for supporting meeting activities
Idea generation
Consensus building
Anonymous ranking
Voting, etc.
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Cool Rooms

US Air Force
Source: Ventana Corp., Tuscon, AZ, http://www.ventana.com
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Cool Rooms

IBM Corp.
Source: Ventana Corp., Tuscon, AZ, http://www.ventana.com
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Important Characteristics
of a GDSS
Specially Designed IS
Goal of Supporting Groups of
Decision Makers
Easy to Learn and Use
May be designed for one type of
problem or for many organizational
decisions
Designed to encourage group
activities
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Three Levels of GDSS

Support
Based on DeSanctis and Gallupe
Level 1: Process Support
Level 2: Decision-making Support
Level 3: Rules of order

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Level 1: Process Support

support the basic communication
process between participants
electronic messaging
network linking the PCs
public screen
anonymous input of votes and ideas
solicitation of ideas or votes
summary and display of ideas and
opinions
format for an agenda
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Level 2: Decision-Making
Support
decision modeling and group decision
techniques aimed at reducing uncertainty
and noise that occur in the group
decision process
adds capabilities for modeling and
decision analysis
planning and financial models
decision trees
probability assessment models
resource allocation models

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

Level 3: Rules of Order

Characterized by machine-induced
group communication patterns
Control the pattern, timing, or
content of information exchange
Special software containing rules of
order is added
rules determining the sequence of
speaking, the appropriate response, or
voting rules
MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima

GDSS Time/Place
Environment
Same-Time
Same-Place
(Most widely used GDSScomputers with projectors, voting
tools)

Different-Time
Same-Place
(audio/video conferencing,
document sharing)

Same-Time
Different-Place
(team room, tools, audio
conferencing, screen sharing, chat)

Different-Time
Different-Place
(voice mail, email, bulletin boards)

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Components of GDSS
There are four fundamental types of components that compose GDSS:
Software
The software part may consist of the following components: databases and
database management capabilities, user/system interface with multi-user
access, specific applications to facilitate group decision-makers activities, and
modeling capabilities.

Hardware
The hardware part may consist of the following components: I/O devices, PCs
orworkstations, individual monitors for each participant or a public screen for
group, and a network to link participants to each other.

People
The people may include decision-making participants and /or facilitator. A
facilitatoris a person who directs the group through the planning process.

Procedures

This refers to the methods that have been used in holding meetings.
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Advantages of GDSS
Parallel Communication eliminate
monopolizing providing increased participation,
better decisions
Automated record keeping no need to take
notes, theyre automatically recorded
Ability for virtual meetings only need
hardware, software and people connected
Portability - Can be set up to be portable laptop
Global Potential - People can be connected
across the world
No need for a computer Proficient although
some basic experience is a must
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Disadvantages of GDSS
Cost infrastructure costs to provide the hardware
and software/room/network connectivity can be
very expensive
Security especially true when companies rent
the facilities for GDSS; also, the facilitator may be a
lower-level employee who may leak information to
peers
Technical Failure power loss, loss of
connectivity, relies heavily on bandwidth and
LAN/WAN infrastructure properly setup system
should minimize this risk
Training learning curve is present for users,
varies by situation
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Thank You!!
Queries?

MS 204/U1/L5/Ashima