National culture and group support systems: Filtering communication to dampen power differentials

The body of group support systems (GSS) knowledge, which has been accumulated mainly in North America, may not be useful in other countries because theories grounded on one culture need not necessarily apply in other cultures. To understand better how GSS technology can be successfully applied in a variety of cultures, researchers need to compare GSS effects systematically across different cultures. This paper outlines seven dimensions of national culture and focuses on one dimension: power distance. Power distance effects can be detrimental in some decision situations. This paper examines how a GSS can reduce power distance effects by restriciting communication modality in groups. It discusses the potential impact of GSS intervention in both high and low power distance countries, and suggests how this impact can be moderated by task type and group size. It arrives at several propositions for experimental investigation.