DECISION DEVELOPMENT IN COMPUTER-ASSISTED GROUP DECISION-MAKING

New computer technologies to aid group communication and decision maki ng are becoming increasingly widespread. This study analyzes how one s uch technology, a group decision support system (GDSS), affected how g roup decisions developed over time. The study contrasted decision path s in groups using the GDSS with groups using the same procedural struc tures incorporated in the GDSS manually and with groups using no proce dural structures. A flexible phase mapping method was employed to map group decision paths. The resulting set of seven decision paths varied in both sequence and number of decision phases. An optimal matching p rocedure was used to compute similarity measures among the 40 paths, a nd cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling were used to generate an empirical taxonomy of decision paths. Results indicated that the n ature of decision paths varied both across the three conditions and wi thin conditions. The decision path types were also related to three ou tcome variables: consensus change, perceived decision qualify, and dec ision scheme satisfaction. Results indicated that those decision paths that most resembled logical normative sequences had superior outcomes to those that did not.