Evaluating the usability of a group support system using co-discovery

Group Support Systems (GSSs) have emerged as a new type of information system to aid group decision-making. With the proliferation of such systems in organizations, evaluation of GSSs is becoming increasingly important. This paper reports the evaluation of an existing GSS. Our usability framework consists of nine dimensions: visual clarity, consistency, compatibility, informative feedback, explicitness, flexibility and control, error prevention and correction, ease of learning, and ease of use. We make use of the co-discovery method where teams of two participants perform tasks together while being observed. The study involves questionnaires and interview sessions. The strengths and weaknesses of the research method, research framework, and research instruments used in this evaluation are also discussed.