IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/grdene/v10y2001i1d10.1023_a1008708912048.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Contrasting Single User and Networked Group Decision Support Systems for Strategy Making

Author

Listed:
  • Fran Ackermann

    (University of Strathclyde)

  • Colin Eden

    (University of Strathclyde)

Abstract

The use of computers to support group work – as a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) – on strategy making has grown over the last decade. Some GDSS's have a facilitator managing the computer with the group viewing a public screen displaying the debate, problem definition, and agreements of the group as it negotiates strategies. Others involve members of the group in the direct input of data that forms part of the problem definition – data that is then used by the group employing electronic voting and other organizing devices. This paper discusses a real case relating to an organization seeking to reach important agreements about its strategy. The case involved the top management team and over 50 senior managers. The organization used a facilitator driven GDSS for some of this work, and a networked system for other parts. Some of the meetings were video taped, some were observed through one-way mirrors, and all of the participants were interviewed about their reactions to the different systems. This paper reports on some of the significant contrasts between the two approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Fran Ackermann & Colin Eden, 2001. "Contrasting Single User and Networked Group Decision Support Systems for Strategy Making," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 47-66, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:grdene:v:10:y:2001:i:1:d:10.1023_a:1008708912048
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1008708912048
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1023/A:1008708912048
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1023/A:1008708912048?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sims, David & Eden, Colin & Jones, Sue, 1981. "Facilitating problem definition in teams," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 360-366, April.
    2. Eden, Colin & Sims, David, 1979. "On the nature of problems in consulting practice," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 119-127.
    3. Gerardine DeSanctis & R. Brent Gallupe, 1987. "A Foundation for the Study of Group Decision Support Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(5), pages 589-609, May.
    4. J. F. Nunamaker & Lynda M. Applegate & Benn R. Konsynski, 1988. "Computer-Aided Deliberation: Model Management and Group Decision Support," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 36(6), pages 826-848, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Matthijs J. Verhulst & Anne-Françoise Rutkowski, 2018. "Decision-Making in the Police Work Force: Affordances Explained in Practice," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 827-852, October.
    2. Etienne Rouwette & Ingrid Bastings & Hans Blokker, 2011. "A Comparison of Group Model Building and Strategic Options Development and Analysis," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 20(6), pages 781-803, November.
    3. Fran Ackermann & L. Alberto Franco & Brent Gallupe & Michael Parent, 2005. "GSS for Multi-Organizational Collaboration: Reflections on Process and Content," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 307-331, July.
    4. Laura J. Black & David F. Andersen, 2012. "Using Visual Representations as Boundary Objects to Resolve Conflict in Collaborative Model‐Building Approaches," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 194-208, March.
    5. Yong Xie & Hongwei Wang, 2014. "A Group Cooperative Decision Support System Based on Extended Contract Net," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 1191-1217, September.
    6. Lami, Isabella M. & Tavella, Elena, 2019. "On the usefulness of soft OR models in decision making: A comparison of Problem Structuring Methods supported and self-organized workshops," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 275(3), pages 1020-1036.
    7. Fran Ackermann & Colin Eden, 2005. "Using Causal Mapping with Group Support Systems to Elicit an Understanding of Failure in Complex Projects: Some Implications for Organizational Research," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 355-376, September.
    8. F Ackermann & C Eden & T Williams & S Howick, 2007. "Systemic risk assessment: a case study," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 58(1), pages 39-51, January.
    9. C Eden & F Ackermann & J M Bryson & G P Richardson & D F Andersen & C B Finn, 2009. "Integrating modes of policy analysis and strategic management practice: requisite elements and dilemmas," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(1), pages 2-13, January.
    10. Roy D. Johnson & Astrid Lipp, 2007. "Cognitive Mapping: A Process to Support Strategic Planning in an Academic Department," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 43-60, January.
    11. G A Hindle & L A Franco, 2009. "Combining problem structuring methods to conduct applied research: a mixed methods approach to studying fitness-to-drive in the UK," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(12), pages 1637-1648, December.
    12. Jaco Appelman & Etiënne Rouwette & Sajda Qureshi, 2002. "The Dynamics of Negotiation in a Global Inter-Organizational Network: Findings from the Air Transport and Travel Industry," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 145-164, March.
    13. Nikos Tsotsolas & Spiros Alexopoulos, 2019. "Towards a holistic strategic framework for applying robust facilitated approaches in political decision making," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 501-541, June.
    14. Franco, L. Alberto & Montibeller, Gilberto, 2010. "Facilitated modelling in operational research," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 205(3), pages 489-500, September.
    15. Parham Fami Tafreshi & Mohammad Hasan Aghdaie & Majid Behzadian & Mahdieh Ghani Abadi, 2016. "Developing a Group Decision Support System for Advertising Media Evaluation: A Case in the Middle East," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 1021-1048, September.
    16. Elena Tavella & L. Alberto Franco, 2015. "Dynamics of Group Knowledge Production in Facilitated Modelling Workshops: An Exploratory Study," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 451-475, May.
    17. Mingers, John, 2011. "Ethics and OR: Operationalising discourse ethics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 210(1), pages 114-124, April.
    18. T Williams, 2003. "Learning from projects," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 54(5), pages 443-451, May.
    19. Ackermann, Fran & Andersen, David F. & Eden, Colin & Richardson, George P., 2011. "ScriptsMap: A tool for designing multi-method policy-making workshops," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 427-434, August.
    20. Fran Ackermann & Colin Eden, 2011. "Negotiation in Strategy Making Teams: Group Support Systems and the Process of Cognitive Change," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 293-314, May.
    21. Howick, Susan & Eden, Colin & Ackermann, Fran & Williams, Terry, 2008. "Building confidence in models for multiple audiences: The modelling cascade," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(3), pages 1068-1083, May.
    22. Tz-Li Wang & Ya-Hui Lien, 2013. "The power of using video data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 2933-2941, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Teich, Jeffrey E. & Wallenius, Hannele & Kuula, Markku & Zionts, Stanley, 1995. "A decision support approach for negotiation with an application to agricultural income policy negotiations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(1), pages 76-87, February.
    2. John Sutherland, 2000. "Extending the Reach of Collective Decision Support Systems: Provisions for Disciplining Judgment-Driven Exercises," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 1-46, February.
    3. Ion Georgiou & Joaquim Heck, 2021. "The emergence of problem structuring methods, 1950s–1989: An atlas of the journal literature," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(6), pages 756-796, November.
    4. Eden, Colin, 1995. "On evaluating the performance of `wide-band' GDSS's," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(2), pages 302-311, March.
    5. Islei, Gerd & Lockett, Geoff & Naudé, Peter, 1999. "Judgemental modelling as an aid to scenario planning and analysis," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 61-73, February.
    6. Anindya Ghose & Avi Goldfarb & Sang Pil Han, 2013. "How Is the Mobile Internet Different? Search Costs and Local Activities," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 613-631, September.
    7. Elfvengren, K.Kalle & Karkkainen, Hannu & Torkkeli, Marko & Tuominen, Markku, 2004. "A GDSS based approach for the assessment of customer needs in industrial markets," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(3), pages 275-292, June.
    8. Sébastien Damart, 2010. "A Cognitive Mapping Approach to Organizing the Participation of Multiple Actors in a Problem Structuring Process," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 505-526, September.
    9. Meløn, Mønica García & Aragonés Beltran, Pablo & Carmen González Cruz, M., 2008. "An AHP-based evaluation procedure for Innovative Educational Projects: A face-to-face vs. computer-mediated case study," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 754-765, October.
    10. Midgley, Gerald & Cavana, Robert Y. & Brocklesby, John & Foote, Jeff L. & Wood, David R.R. & Ahuriri-Driscoll, Annabel, 2013. "Towards a new framework for evaluating systemic problem structuring methods," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(1), pages 143-154.
    11. Jae Kwang Lee & Jae Kyeong Kim & Soung Hie Kim & Hung Kook Park, 2002. "An Intelligent Idea Categorizer for Electronic Meeting Systems," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 11(5), pages 363-378, September.
    12. O'Keefe, Robert M., 2016. "Experimental behavioural research in operational research: What we know and what we might come to know," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(3), pages 899-907.
    13. Luis A. Guerrero & José A. Pino, 2009. "Supporting Discussions for Decision Meetings," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 589-601, November.
    14. Francisco Antunes & João Paulo Costa, 2010. "The Missing Link: Theoretical Reflections On Decision Reconstruction," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 0(2), pages 197-214.
    15. Guo Li & Wenling Liu & Zhaohua Wang & Mengqi Liu, 2017. "An empirical examination of energy consumption, behavioral intention, and situational factors: evidence from Beijing," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 255(1), pages 507-524, August.
    16. Sabrina Bresciani & Martin J. Eppler, 2015. "The Pitfalls of Visual Representations," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, October.
    17. Yu, Lean & Wang, Shouyang & Lai, Kin Keung, 2009. "An intelligent-agent-based fuzzy group decision making model for financial multicriteria decision support: The case of credit scoring," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 195(3), pages 942-959, June.
    18. Damart, Sébastien & Roy, Bernard, 2009. "The uses of cost-benefit analysis in public transportation decision-making in France," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 200-212, August.
    19. Terri L. Griffith & Mark A. Fuller & Gregory B. Northcraft, 1998. "Facilitator Influence in Group Support Systems: Intended and Unintended Effects," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 9(1), pages 20-36, March.
    20. Clare Bayley & Simon French, 2008. "Designing a Participatory Process for Stakeholder Involvement in a Societal Decision," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 195-210, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:grdene:v:10:y:2001:i:1:d:10.1023_a:1008708912048. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.