Group development and history in GSS research: a new research perspective

Abstract

The psychology, speech communications, and management literature is rich with theory on the topic of group history and development. Three general categories of developmental models have been proposed: progressive, cyclical, and non-sequential. These models suggest that group performance, member behavior, and task focus change as the group matures and develops. Group support systems (GSS) have been created to assist groups in performing their tasks and activities. Several studies of key variables that influence group performance have produced mixed, and in some cases conflicting, results. This may be partially due to a lack of attention to the issue of group history and development. Only two known GSS studies address the effects of group development on group process, performance, and efficiency. To facilitate additional research into this area, a research framework that represents this development process is proposed along with several propositions implied by this framework.<>