GSS for presentation-style meetings

Presentation-style meetings are an ubiquitous fixture in both the workplace and academia. In presentation-style meetings one participant makes a formal oral presentation while others listen and assimilate the presented content. Many presentation-style meetings also provide a forum for participants to discuss the presented ideas with the presenter and with one another to deepen and broaden understanding of the content. However, it can be difficult to balance the time for presentation with the time for discussion. This paper reports on two exploratory studies where we intervened in a series of presentation-style meetings with a Group Support System (GSS) in an effort to increase the value derived by the participants and the presenters. The paper describes the interventions and the reactions of presenters, participants, and session moderators. Results were generally positive, although not unmixed. Participants did become more actively involved in the presentations. Interest and participation rose. However, participants also expressed social concerns that on-line discussion might be considered rude by the speakers. The paper concludes with lessons learned and directions for future investigations.