THE EFFECTS OF VARIATIONS IN GDSS CAPABILITIES ON DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES IN GROUPS

Group Decision Support Systems (GDSSs) provide mechanism for reducing equivocality and facilitating consensus on interpretations by decision -making groups. Whereas much previous research compares groups with GD SS support to nonsupported groups, less research has been conducted wh ich varies the type of support provided in a GDSS. This study addresse s two questions: What are the impacts of variations in the level of so phistication of a GDSS on group decision-making processes? What is the significance of these process impacts on group outcomes? Two differen t GDSS designs that delivered varying levels of decision-making suppor t were employed in the study. The conceptual model identifies six spec ific process impacts. The results indicate that variations in GDSS cap abilities have an impact on elements of the group decision-making proc ess, such as the ability to develop procedural insight or ideational c onnection and use formal evaluation. Further the process impacts were found to be significantly related to the group outcomes. The ideas pre sented in the article are expected to offer a foundation for developin g finer-grained theories of GDSS effects on group decision making.