Donna Dufner

Distributed group support systems: Social dynamics and design dilemmas

A “distributed group support system”; includes decision support tools and structures embedded within a computer‐mediated communication system rather than installed in a “decision room.”; It should support groups who are distributed in space but not time (synchronous”; groups), as well as “asynchronous”; groups whose members participate at different times. Pilot studies conducted in preparation for a series of controlled experiments are reviewed in order to identify some of the problems of implementing such a system. Many of the means used by groups meeting in the same place at the same time to coordinate their activities are missing. Embedding decision support tools within a different communications medium and environment changes the way they “work.”; Speculations are presented about software tools and structuring or facilitation procedures that might replace the “missing”; coordination channels.

Got Sisp?: Strategic Information Systems Planning in U.S. State Governments

Data from the Government Performance Project Year 2000 survey of Information Technology in state governments were analyzed to determine the status of strategic information systems and technology planning (SISP) in states. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicate that information technology planning in most states may be more a middle-up than a top-down process. In most states, information technology planning is carried out at the agency rather than the state level, giving planning an operational (nonstrategic) rather than a policy focus. A possible explanation for this operational planning bias is the traditional structural separation in government between strategic policy decision making and technical and operational concerns. There is some support for this explanation in that states receiving top grades for information technology have overcome the separation by forming and empowering independent committees to link state government-wide decision making with information technology concerns.

Distributed group support: The effects of voting Tools on group perceptions of media richness

ABstractDecision groups distributed both temporally and geographically encounter a multitude of coordination problems. This experiment used a set of GDSS Tools called “List” and “Vote,” and alternative interaction management procedures, as mechanisms for coordinating distributed groups using a computer conferencing system and for structuring group processes. The study examined media richness using a modification of the adjective-pairs developed by Zmud, Lind, and Young (1990). The Tools significantly improved subjective perceptions of media richness. The attempted manipulation of the presence or absence of sequential procedures for the most part was not effective in creating significant differences in group perception of media richness.

Asynchronous team support: Perceptions of the group problem solving process when using a CyberCollaboratory

The research presented studied thirty-three groups of student volunteers over a period of three weeks while the groups performed a series of teamwork tasks. To investigate the viability of Web-based group support tools for asynchronous learning networks, student volunteers from four widely distributed universities were assigned to one of four experimental conditions. The conditions are; 2 modes of communication (asynchronous vs. synchronous)/spl times/2 support conditions (with CyberCollaboratory support or without). The groups assigned to the different conditions reported significant differences in perceptions of the group problem solving process. The face-to-face groups felt the process was more efficient, coordinated, fair, and satisfying. Those with CyberCollaboratory support thought the process was more confusing and less satisfying. Comments from the students suggest the reason for these results may be a combination of insufficient training time (one week) and a short period (two weeks) for using the tools to accomplish a fairly simple group task. Interaction effects showed that both the asynchronous groups with CyberCollaboratory support and the baseline (face-to face) groups found the problem solving process to be more efficient, coordinated, and fair than did either the asynchronous groups without CyberCollaboratory support or the face-to face groups with CyberCollaboratory support.

Enriching asynchronous learning networks through the provision of virtual collaborative learning spaces: a research pilot

The research pilot presented here studied six student groups (N=30) using a CyberCollaboratory to perform the tasks necessary to complete a complex group project assignment in the asynchronous mode of communication. Each group was comprised of students from two major universities located over 500 miles apart and in different states. All students performed the task over a period of approximately four months. The task was comprised of subtask types, which can best be described using the model presented by J. Fjermestad et al. (1994). The group task required students to (1) generate, (2) choose, (3) negotiate, and (4) execute components for project performance. Preliminary findings of the study indicate that students can work productively and collaboratively in the asynchronous mode of communication, even at great distances, to produce exciting and valuable class projects given appropriate tools and process structures such as Group Decision Support Tools, Collaborative Document Production Group Discussion (Computer Mediated Conferencing), Email, and Chat.

Models for U.S. State Government Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP)

Although efficiency of state services depends increasingly on information systems, there is a dearth of theory to explain their management in government (Fountain, 2001; Caudle, 1996; National Commission on State and Local Public Service, 1993). Multidisciplinary research discussed and presented here demonstrates the lack of workable SISP models for state government. Success of SISP in the private sector suggests that appropriate models could help bridge the gap between state resources and citizen needs (Dufner, Holley and Reed, 2002). New theoretical models of SISP, based on data covering 50 states (Government Performance Project, 2001), are introduced. Plans for research on using the models to understand the role of IS in leveraging resources for state government elder services are presented and discussed.

PMA: An ESS Prototype to Support Software Project Planning

Project management has become increasingly complex and important, a professional discipline in its own right. Often project managers lack the training needed to do adequate planning. Without an accurate plan, rework increases, budget and schedules are overrun, scope must often be trimmed, and projects fail. The difference between success and failure can be the skill of the project manager. This paper presents and discusses a Webenabled, rule based, expert system prototype, Project Management Advisor (PMA), to support project managers who are learning and refining project management skills. PMA, a field prototype, was evaluated and tested for accuracy using 11 project plans from a fortune 500 company.