Group decision support systems: Towards a conceptual foundation

Group decision support systems (GDSS) have been the focus of extensive research studies over the last decade. These, however, have largely been experimental in nature and dealt mainly with students in laboratory settings. Although the significance of these studies are not questioned, the findings have sometimes been conflicting. Further, the study of GDSS is currently lacking a real conceptual foundation. This paper is an attempt to contribute to the building of a foundation for the study, design, and implementation of GDSS. An integrated framework is presented; it is sufficiently comprehensive to embody the fundamental elements of the GDSS’ complex environment. Within this framework, particular emphasis is given to the social and interpersonal variables and their impact on communication requirements. The implication for the design and implementation of the GDSS is discussed.