Interaction of task and technology to support large groups

There are multiple, and occasionally conflicting, prespectives regarding what Group Support Systems are, what they should be, and what directions research related to them should take. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the factors involved in Group Support Systems, with particular attention to the ways in which these factors interact. A University of Arizona implementation of automated group decision support is described as an example of an established Group Support System, based upon a philosophy that recognizes the critical importance of environment, hardware and software to the successful operation of the system. Research conducted at University of Arizona facilities has involved experience with many groups brought together to address real problems. This research has resulted in identification of three interacting factors deemed to be essential to a successful Group Support System: user profile, task domain, and technology. Each of these is defined and its relationships with the others are described. Aspects of benefits to larger groups, task dynamics, interaction among group tasks and technology, multiple session benefits, integration of information technology and impacts upon group process also are explored. Multiple-methodological research approaches and opportunities for future research are addressed.