Knowledge acquisition techniques for group decision support

Existing group decision support systems used in meeting rooms can help teams reach decisions quickly and efficiently. However, the decision models used by these systems are inadequate for many types of problems. This paper describes our laboratory's experience with knowledge acquisition systems and decision support tools. Our studies led us to develop a comprehensive decision model for group decision support systems. This decision model combines current brainstorming-oriented methods, structured text argumentation (using the gIBIS model), repertory grids, possibility tables (morphological charts) and influence diagrams from decision analysis. Each component addresses weaknesses in current group decision support systems. We are assembling these group decision support components together into a group decision workbench.