Keywords

groupware, group support systems, electronic brainstorming, entrainment, problem structure, time

Abstract

There are many ways in which a GSS can beused to support group brainstorming. This paper reports the results of an experiment that manipulated task structure and time structure. Groups electronically brainstormed on intact tasks(where all parts of the task were presented simultaneously) or on partitioned tasks (where three subcategories of the task were presented to thegroups). The time periods in which groups worked were either one 30-minute time period or three 10-minute periods separated by two-minute breaks. Groups in the partitioned task treatment generated 40% more ideas, but there were no time effects. These differences are attributed to the ability of the partitioned task to refocus members' attention more evenly across the entire solution space.

Original Publication Citation

“Structuring task and time in electronic brainstorming.” Alan R. Dennis, Jay E. Aronson, William G. Heninger, and Edward Walker, MIS Quarterly 23 (March 1999, pp. 95-108).

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1999

Publisher

MIS Quarterly 23

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Accountancy

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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Accounting Commons

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