97-050

GROUP SUPPORT SYSTEMS: TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS

Maryam Alavi

GSS (group support systems) refer to computer and communication based technologies designed to enhance group decision making and problem solving processes. In this paper, three categories of GSS - communication support, coordination support, and task support - are identified and discussed. For each category, the major functional capabilities are described and examples of commercial products are provided. Next, examples of applications of different categories of GSS in a variety of organizational settings and the resulting benefits are presented. In the last section of this paper, laboratory and field studies of GSS are reviewed and summarized and the practical implications of their findings are discussed.

GM
27 pages

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