RESEARCH-DRIVEN FACILITATION TRAINING FOR COMPUTER-SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTS

The ability to skillfully facilitate meeting interactions is one of th e most important competencies for managing organizations and work. Yet research and experiences indicate that most meetings are seen as unpr oductive and that few of us have ever been trained sufficiently to con duct them! Two possible pathways to improve the deplorable state of me eting interactions have been suggested-first, the enhancement of facil itation skills at all levels and, second, the appropriate use of Group Support Systems (GSS) to support group work. This article provides a description of a five-year research and development effort to develop a skill-based GSS facilitator training program. The training program a nd the research studies that serve as its foundation are described. Th e implications of this research and training design for other facilita tive roles are also discussed. The facilitator/mediator role connectio n is made, and the application of the GSS facilitator role in the medi ation arena is addressed.