Time/place Framework pg 441

The effectiveness of collaborative computing technology depends on the location of the group members and on the time that shared info is sent and recieved.

When information is sent and recieved almost simultaneously, the communication is said to be synchronous (real-time): Telephones,IM and face to face meetings are egs.

Asynchronous communication occurs when the reciever gets the information at a different time than it was sent: email

Groupware

primary objective to support group work.

can support direct or indirect decision making

Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS)

Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS) is a collaborative tool for GSS

Different Time

General characteristics include:

• If one member disagrees, the others may well need re-consulting (chasing one’s tail situation)
• By keeping each team member’s comments confidential, members tend to not feel constrained or threatened (junior members often feel less inhibited as a result)

Same Time

General characteristics include:

• Preferable for decision-making
• Facilitated by:

1. video-conferencing, and
2. multi-media presentations
3. electronic white boards,

• Data/document sharing comparatively simple
• Web based GSS preferable support tool

Collaboration support

Four scenarios:

• Same place, same time
• Same place, different time
• Different place, same time
• Different place, different time

communication Support

• Vital element for decision support
• Modern information technologies via the Web provide:

1. Inexpensive
2. Fast
3. Capable
4. Reliable

means of supporting communications

• Enabling Platforms:

1. Internet/Intranet/Extranet

Group Support Systems

• Group Decision-Making
• Group Communication

1. Communication support

• Group Collaboration

1. Collaboration support

• Group Support Systems

1. Technologies/Tools