Coordination challenges in a computer-supported meeting environment

In this study the authors observed the coordination activities of groups collaboratively writing in a low-structure computer-supported meeting room. They used video analyses of the sessions to identify well-coordinated and poorly coordinated groups. Through user questionnaires, group members evaluated their work processes and products as well as the computer-supported environment. Writing experts independently rated the quality of the groups’ final documents. The authors discovered that quality of coordination was strongly tied to groups’ evaluations of their work processes, work products, and tools. Well-coordinated groups tended to be more efficient than poorly coordinated groups although no differences were observed in the quality of their documents. The authors also identify what coordination strategies lead to effective group work and offer suggestions for additional tools to facilitate coordination.