E-Collaboration Using Group Decision Support Systems in Virtual Meetings

Abstract

When e-collaborating, there is often a need to bring everyone involved together for a meeting. With potential meeting participants often widely dispersed geographically, the meeting could be conducted virtually by utilizing technology known as groupware. Procedures for conducting successful face-to-face meetings have been in place for many years. However, with the rise in the number of computer-mediated virtual meetings being held amongst e-collaborators, there are additional considerations to take into account when conducting virtual meetings using groupware. This article discusses the use of a particular type of groupware (GDSS) in virtual meetings conducted by participants collaborating in an electronic environment.

Key Terms in this Chapter

E-Collaboration: Working together in an electronic environment.

Virtual Meeting Protocol: The rules or conventions of correctly conducting a virtual meeting.

Virtual Meetings: Meetings conducted electronically, not face-to-face.

Computer-Mediated Collaboration: Working together by using technology-facilitated means.

Computer-Mediated Communication: Communicating by using technology-facilitated means.

Group Decision Support Systems: A category of groupware that encourages activities such as group idea generation, voting, brainstorming, decision making, and consensus reaching.

Groupware: Technology that supports collaboration, communication, and coordination in an electronic environment.

Meeting Protocol: The rules or conventions of correctly conducting a meeting.