Knowledge Management Research Projects

An Empirical Study of the Impacts of an Asynchronous and Distributed Group Decision Support System on Multiple Criteria Decision Making Processes

Funding:

MGS Scholarship

Chief Investigators:

A.Prof. Frada Burstien

Student Investigators:

Mr Patrick Cao

Major Question:

What differences might the parallel and sequential coordination methods brought about for the outcomes of a distributed group decision-making process?

Abstract:

Previous research indicates that different coordination methods generally influence group decision-making process and outcomes. Few studies, however, measure specific differences that these coordination methods might have on distributed group decision-making outcomes. There are two common coordination methods in distributed group decision-making: parallel and sequential. The parallel is defined as group members working individually in most of the decision-making stages, while the sequential means that group members must reach a certain agreement at each stage of decision-making process before moving on to the next. In order to gain an insight into this problem, the project has been designed to focus on parallel and sequential coordination methods in distributed group decision-making context where more than one decision factor (criterion) is considered. This research project includes the development of a Web-based group decision support system (GDSS) prototype, which provides appropriate procedures and functionality to facilitate the distributed group decision-making process. We plan to conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate the impacts of parallel and sequential coordination methods on group decision-making process using the prototype we developed. We are trying to find out what differences these two methods might bring into their decision-making process and outcomes when the groups are operating in different places and in different time.

Methodology:

In the experimental design, two categories of subject groups adopting either parallel or sequential coordination method will be asked to go through a pre-assigned decision-making task. They will be assisted by the Web-based GDSS prototype. The prototype allows the users to formulate the problem, develop criteria for making their decision, and evaluate all alternatives on-line. It also supports communications among the distributed group members in order to reach a group decision. We attempt to find out what differences occur by asking groups to fill in a questionnaire after they finish the task.

For more information:

Patrick Cao