EFFECTS OF TASK LANGUAGE DEMANDS AND TASK COMPLEXITY ON COMPUTER-MEDIATED WORK GROUPS

This study of group support systems examined the effects of the fit of task demands for numeric, visual, and conceptual language with the ab ility of different communication channels to transfer these types of i nformation. It was proposed that the quality of this task language dem and-communication channel fit would affect group performance and strat egy. Fifty-four groups worked on two levels of a spatial-visual task t hat varied in level of information processing complexity. Audio confer encing groups whose communication channels were poorly matched to task language demands performed more poorly, made fewer decisions per time period, and used less appropriate strategies than did face-to-face an d screensharing groups Performance decrements in the audio conferencin g groups were due partly to the use of improper strategies when unawar e of informational differences, and partly due to communication proble ms that limited the ability of the audio channel to allow effective in tegration or coordination of members' contributions even when group me mbers were aware of information differences. The results are discussed in the context of information sampling disadvantages that occur when a poor fit between task language demands and communication channels in hibits sharing of information between group members.