A nonsimultaneous computer conference as a component of group decision support systems

A field experiment was conducted to study dispersed group decision-making using a nonsimultaneous computer conference (NCC) group decision support system (GDSS). The decision-making processes for groups using NCC was compared with similar groups using face-to-face communication. The experiment used a general-knowledge decision-making task. Group members searched for an optimal solution by sharing information and generating alternatives. Multivariate analysis of variance results were significant at the p<0.03 level. Univariate tests of significance for each dependent variable indicated that with NCCs less information was shared, groups were less comprehensive in considering all aspects of the decision-making task, and less progress toward the decision goal was perceived to exist.<>