Page 303 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

286 Chapter 10

select the right technological system for the group, and have it prepared properly.
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Today, with the increased user friendliness of these systems, the need for trained facilita-
tors is lessening, and but the role facilitation can play should always be considered.
To summarize, GSS are generally good for groups, although not useful in every
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circumstance. Consistent assessment of GSS recommends that groups combine both
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modes of communication: computer and face-to-face. When they are used consistently
with their intended use, they can be very effective, but they don’t eliminate the need for
members knowledgeable about group processes and skilled in communication.

Recap: A Quick Review

roups have many tools at their disposal and should use common sense in
Gdetermining which tools to use.
1. The P-MOPS procedure is flexible; group members should tailor it by emphasizing
some steps or eliminating others, depending on the type of problem facing the group.
2. Seven characteristics of problems help members decide which steps are essential
and which are not. Task-related characteristics include task difficulty (how complex
the task is) and solution multiplicity (how many possible solutions there are, poten-
tially), and cooperative requirements (whether the task is a conjunctive one that
requires substantial coordination among members).
3. Member characteristics include intrinsic interest (how genuinely interested mem-
bers are in the issue) and population familiarity (whether the members have faced
similar tasks in the past and are knowledgeable about how to approach the task).
4. Output characteristics include the acceptance requirements (whether the solution
requires acceptance by those affected in order to succeed) and technical require-
ments (whether there are technical standards that must be met for the solution to
be acceptable).
5. Several technologies are available to help groups, including instant messaging,
e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, and interactive relay chat rooms.
6. When these technologies are used, it is important that members know how to use
them and that guidelines encourage and motivate members to contribute and to
use appropriate communication behaviors.
7. Teleconferences can include audio, video, and computer conferences. The effec-
tiveness of these technologies is enhanced when members can meet face-to-face
first to create a sense of “groupness.”
8. Group support systems (or group decision support systems) are computer programs
designed to help improve group problem solving. They may focus on one particular
problem-solving step, such as idea generation, or may be designed to help the
entire problem-solving process.
9. GSS groups generate more alternatives, make better decisions, and have more
even member participation, but have difficulty with negotiation and complex tasks,
take more time, have a harder time achieving consensus, and generally have lower
member satisfaction.

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