FACILITATION, GSS, AND TRAINING AS SOURCES OF PROCESS RESTRICTIVENESSAND GUIDANCE FOR STRUCTURED GROUP DECISION-MAKING - AN EMPIRICAL-ASSESSMENT

Structured decision techniques have been a mainstay of prescriptive de cision theory for decades. Group Support Systems (GSSs) automate many of the features found in decision techniques, yet groups often choose to ignore both the technique and the technology in favor of more famil iar decision processes. This research empirically tests propositions a nd hypotheses for a specific instantiation of Adaptive Structuration T heory. A controlled laboratory experiment tests the ability of three a ppropriation mediators (e.g., facilitation, GSS configuration, and tra ining) to directively affect group decision making through guidance an d restrictiveness. The experiment used a hidden-profile task and struc tured decision technique which directed group members to reach a decis ion by identifying the problem, choosing criteria, and selecting a sol ution. The results supported the proposition that appropriation mediat ors can increase the faithful use of structured decision techniques an d that faithful use can improve decision quality.