What is Voice-Based Group Support System (VGSS)

One of the primary reasons large meetings utilizing group support systems (GSS) are more efficient and effective than traditional meetings is because the former are based upon typed comments and opinions while the latter are based upon voice input (Nunamaker, Briggs, Mittleman, Vogel, & Balthazard, 1997). Using a keyboard, participants can submit comments to the group anonymously and simultaneously, but in an oral meeting, participants must take turns speaking to avoid confusion. Further, group members in an electronic meeting can skim recorded typed comments easily, while most traditional meetings do not have complete transcripts available as the discussion progresses. Even analyzing new comments is more efficient with a GSS. Most people can read faster than they can listen, and in an oral meeting, the rate of input is limited by the current speaker’s voice.