One aspect of brainstorming that has received little research attention is how the brainstorming problem should be presented to the group, whether as one all-encompassing question or as a series of separate questions each focusing on one aspect of the problem. This paper reports the results of two experiments in which subjects (MBAs in the first, senior executives in the second) electronically brainstormed on intact problems (where all parts of the problem were presented simultaneously) or on decomposed problems (where three subcategories of the problem were sequentially posed to the groups). In both experiments, groups using the decomposed process generated 60% more ideas. We attribute these differences to the ability of time constraints to increase the rate of idea generation, and the ability of problem decomposition to refocus members' attention more evenly across the entire problem.

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Bye Wynne, who never held back from life, charging those he touched with his vigor, heart, and mind. Thanks. This article reports on an experiment investigating the effects of a human facilitator and a computerized Group Support System (GSS) on group meeting outcomes. These treatments were applied in the same way as they are in real organizational situations, with experimental conditions used to control confounding influences of other outside factors. Forty-eight groups were supported by one, both, or neither of the GSS and facilitator treatments. Groups designed a coordinated production strategy during the meeting and then implemented their strategy. Group performance, perceptions of group cohension, and group interaction processes were assessed as the primary dependent variables. Facilitated groups experienced improved group processes and greater cohesion, whereas the GSS-supported groups did not. Facilitator and GSS support together tended to enhance one another's effective influence on cohesion and processes. No significant treatment effects on Performance were found. Supplemental analyses revealed that the quality of facilitators and the restrictiveness of different GSS tools moderated their impacts on appropriation processes and group outcomes.group support systems, facilitation, meeting, group, adaptive structuration theory

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The psychology, sociology, and management literature is rich with theory on the topic of group development. Three general categories of developmental models have been proposed: progressive models, cyclical models, and nonsequential models. These models predict that group performance, member behavior, and task focus change as the group matures and develops. Groups are integral components of organizations. Group support systems (GSSs) have been created to assist groups in performing their tasks and activities. Numerous research studies have been conducted to identify key variables that influence group performance in GSS environments. Many of these studies have produced mixed and, in some cases, conflicting results. This may be due partially to a lack of attention to the issue of group development. Few studies have looked at the influence that group development and group history have on group behavior and performance. Only two GSS studies have been conducted on the effects of group development and group history on group process, performance, and efficiency. To facilitate additional research into this area, a research framework that incorporates a mechanism for representing this development process is proposed In addition, a number of propositions implied by the relationships represented in this framework are presented and discussed