GROUP DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

Agenda
Review of last lecture Group Decision Support System What is a Group? Group Decision Making
Benefits of Groups Problems with Groups Benefits of GDSS

Group Decision Support System

A DSS whose design, structure and usage reflect the way in which people cooperate to make a particular decision or type of decision An alternative, 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

What is a Group?
Refers to two or more (usually up to twenty-five) 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

Benefits of Groups
Better than individuals at understanding problems People are accountable for decision that they participate in Better at catching errors Has more information (knowledge) that any one member
More alternatives==>better solutions

Benefits of Groups
Synergy may be produced Working in groups may stimulate the participants and the process (crossfertilization) Committed to the implementation Moderate high-risk takers and encourage conservatives

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 Group dynamics

Free-riders Fear to speak Domination

Problems with Groups

Compromised solutions of poor quality Nonproductive time
Socializing Getting ready Waiting for people

Tendency to repeat what already was said Cost (time, money, energy)

Problems with Groups

Make riskier decision than they should /more extreme (one way or the other) Incomplete or inappropriate use of information

Inappropriate repsentation in the group

Time/Place Frame work

Time
Synchronous Asynchronous

Place
Same place Different place

Time/Place Frame work

Same Time/Same Place
Decision room

Same Time/Different Place

Telephone conferencing, video conferencing

Different Time/Same Place

Project/team rooms, shared offices

Different Time/Different Place

Email,workflow management system

Three Levels of GDSS Support

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

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

Level 2: Decision-Making Support

Decision modeling and group decision techniques aimed at reducing uncertainty and noise that occurs in the group decision process Adds capabilities for modeling and decision analysis
planning and financial models Decision trees Probability assessment models Resource allocation models

Level 3: Rule 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

Format of a GDSS Meeting

Idea Generation/Electronic Brainstorming
- what are the problems?

Idea Organization
- Organized the ideas into a list of key issues

Voting/Ranking
- which are most important?

Idea Generation
- who can do the task?

Benefits of GDSS
Supports parallel generation of ideas Supports larger groups Rapid and easy access to external information Parallel computer discussion Anonymous input Automatic documentation of the group meetings