Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter XIII
Supporting Distributed Groups
with Group Support Systems:
A Study of the Effect of Group Leaders
and Communication Modes on Group
Performance
Youngjin Kim
Fordham University, USA
abstraCt
The leadership role facilitates group process by structuring group interaction. How leadership affects
group performance in GSS settings remains one of the least investigated areas of GSS research. In this
study, the presence of a group leader is found to make a significant difference in objective decision
quality and satisfaction with the decision process. At the same time, perceived decision quality and con-
sensus are not significantly different in groups with a leader and those without one. A content analysis
of comments by group leaders shows that group leaders are effective when making comments on clear
group objectives and interaction structure in the early stages of group interaction. In the later stages,
however, it becomes more important for group leaders to offer comments encouraging interaction and
maintaining group cohesion.
introduCtion
maker, & Vogel, 1988). The objective of GSS is to
increase the effectiveness and efficiency of group
interaction by facilitating the interactive sharing
of information among group members (Nuna-
maker, Dennis, Valacich, Vogel, & George, 1991).
These objectives are accomplished by augmenting
Group support systems (GSS) are information
technology-based environments to support group
activities that may be distributed geographically
and temporally (Dennis, George, Jessup, Nuna-
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