The effect of task structure and time structure on convergence activities using group support systems = 任務結構和時間結構對使用團體支持系統的趨同行為的影響

Abstract

Group support systems have been developed and are useful for generating many ideas in a short time span, however, the ability of groups to converge on the most worthy ideas has been generally neglected in the research literature. Thus, this empirical research assesses and validates the effects of task and time structure on the ability of computer mediated groups using a group support system (GSS) to perform an idea convergence task. Convergence was examined through literature review of past research and theory, with a focus on social and cognitive psychology, especially information processing theory. Using a 2*2 factorial study, a set of 5 person groups were asked to converge to a set of 20 ideas from a large set of 100 previously GSS generated ideas using the 1-10 point rating facility on a GSS, and taking the top 20 ideas as those for convergence. Task structure was manipulated by varying the number of questions in the convergence task (either a single question or 3 sub-questions), and time structure was manipulated by varying the number of breaks in the convergence process (no breaks or a break every five minutes until task completion). A kappa measure of convergence was developed to investigate convergence by comparing the group’s top 20 ideas with expert raters’ top 20 ideas. Subjective measures of satisfaction and mental load were also developed and used. Results indicate that task structure has an influence on convergence, and time structure influences satisfaction with convergence. More specifically, task structure influences the ability of a group of 5 raters to converge on a set of ideas. Time structure has more of an impact on the satisfaction with the convergence outcome. It was also found that cognitive correlates with the ability of the group to converge as measured by the kappa measure of convergence in relation to that of expert raters. Recommendations are made for the improvement of convergence in GSS meetings, using structure and reduced mental load within process and technology. Using human information processing principles, the mental load of GSS groups could be reduced in order to improve GSS convergence outcomes. Further research is recommended towards examining the effect of mental load and structure within different GSS task/process/tool configurations. Recommendations are offered to practitioners for the use of task and time structure together with an awareness of cognitive load, in order to increase the likelihood of positive convergence outcomes in GSS meetings.

Date of Award	3 Oct 2006
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Douglas VOGEL (Supervisor)