Chapter 7 Collaborative Computing Technologies Group Support Systems

Chapter 7 Collaborative Computing Technologies: Group Support Systems DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE , Eighth Edition 7 -1

Groupwork § It means people collaborate and communicate to perform business work. © 2005

Characteristic § Members can be located in different places and § § work at different times Information may be located external to the project The group can be permanent or temporary. Allows for rapid solutions Often Internet based © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -3

Communication Support § No collaboration without communication § Groups need not only communication, but information and knowledge © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -4

Collaboration support: CSCW § Collaboration more deep than communication. § Collaboration conveys meaning or knowledge among group members. § It includes sharing files, information, as well as such activities. § Collaboration implies people actively working togather. © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -5

Collaboration support: CSCW (cont. ) § Computer support collaborative work system are known as group support system (GSS) or groupware. © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -6

Time/Place Communication Framework § Effectiveness of collaborative group depends on § Time § synchronous or asynchronous transmission of information § Place § location of participants 7 -7

§ Same times/ same place: participants meet face-toface in one place at the same time § Same time/same place: participants are in deferent place, but the communication at the same time. § Same time/ same place: people work in shift; § Same time /same place: participants are in different places. © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -8

Groupware § § § Groupware refers to SW products that provide collaboration groups. It provides a mechanism for teams to share opinions, data, information, knowledge. Different collaborative computing technologies support group work in different way. Most use Internet technologies Most offer one or more capabilities § § § § § Electronic brainstorming Electronic conferencing or videoconferencing Group scheduling and calendars Conflict resolution Model building Electronic document sharing Voting services Electronic meeting services also available Enterprise-wide systems expensive in cost and human resources © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -9

Popular Groupware § § § Lotus Notes/Domino Microsoft Netmeeting Groove Workspace Group. Systems Meeting. Room and On. Line Web. Ex © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -10

GSS § Common group activities with computer assistance § Information retrieval: including access of data vaues from an exsting database and reterival of information from other group members. § Information sharing: display of data for the whole group. § Information use © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -11

GSS Meeting Process § § § § § Group leader meets with facilitator to plan meeting structure. Participants meet on computers. Group leader or facilitator poses question. Participants brainstorm by entering comments into computer. Facilitator employs idea organization software to sort comments into common themes. Results are displayed. Facilitator or group leader leads discussion. Themes are prioritized. Highest priority topics are either sent through the process again for further discussion or a vote is taken. © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -12

GSS Meeting Process § Standard Process § Exploratory idea generation: look at the problem and try to develop creative ideas. § Idea organization tool: the output of this stage is a list of key ideas with a supporting details § Prioritization § New idea generation: ideas are generated based on pritortization of the key ideaa. § Selection of final idea © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -13

GSS success § Success based upon effectiveness, reduction in costs, better decisions, increased productivity © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -14

GSS and Distance Education § Classroom collaborative computing advantages § § Brainstorming, chat, discussion boards Distribution of information, lectures § § § Textbooks can be bound or electronic E-mails and listservs § § § One-on-one interaction Allows for global classrooms Anytime/anyplace with fixed deadlines § § § Publishes to course site Videoconferenced Consistent materials Flexible time frame Doesn’t interfere with work shift Low delivery costs with large audiences © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -15

GSS and Distance Education, continued § Disadvantages: § § § § Fewer social interactions Communication problems Students must be self-starters and highly disciplined Classes require major technical and administrative support Technical infrastructure must be reliable Courses may need to be redesigned for online Special training Corporate training online: § § § Allows anytime/anyplace training Lowers costs Decreases time away from jobs Shortens learning process Delivered via Intranet, intranets, extranets, audio and video conferencing © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -16

Creativity Support System § Creativity § § § Fundamental human trait Level of achievement Can be learned § Organizations recognize value in innovation § Stimulated by electronic brainstorming software § Free flow idea generation § Creative computer programs § § Smartbots function as facilitators Identify analogies in letter patterns Draw art Write poems § Computer programs stimulate human productivity © 2005 Prentice Hall, Decision Support Systems and Intelligent Systems, 7 th Edition, Turban, Aronson, and Liang 7 -17