Increased global competition is forcing organizations to increase their use of
group decision making today. Computerized group decision support aids (CGDSAs) are
being developed to improve the efficiency of these groups and to improve decision
quality. Even though the use of CGDSAs has increased, very little research has been
done on the evaluation of CGDSAs. The purpose of this research was to develop a
model-based generalized methodology for CGDSA evaluation from the user's
perspective.
Two models were developed as a foundation for the CGDSA evaluation
methodology. The first model was a model of group decision making and the second
model was a model of computer-aided group decision making. The group decision
making model was based upon a basic input-output model with the problem as the input
and the selected alternative as the output. Analogous to how problems are viewed in
terms of classical design of experiments, independent variables affect the outcome
(problem solution the dependent variable) of the decision making process. As in design
of experiments, independent variables are either noise variables or control variables. In
the model presented, the independent variables are further divided into four categories
(internal, external, process, and problem) in the group decision making model as a way to
help develop an exhaustive list of independent variables affecting the decision making
process.
The generalized methodology for CGDSA evaluation mapped directly to the
computer-aided group decision making model. Solution quality is measured directly or
by measuring independent variables that have been previously been correlated to solution
quality using standard design of experiment techniques.
The generalized methodology for CGDSA evaluation was applied to the
assessment of ConsensusBuilder, an example of a CGDSA. As prescribed by the
CGDSA evaluation methodology, usability was also assessed and practical use
considerations were followed when designing the evaluation. The value of the
ConsensusBuilder evaluation for this research was that it was possible to perform a
thorough evaluation of ConsensusBuilder, a CGDSA, using the CGDSA Evaluation
Methodology developed in this research. In addition to the ConsensusBuilder evaluation,
six different CGDSA evaluations cited in the literature were assessed in terms of the
CGDSA evaluation methodology. / Graduation date: 2002
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/32454 |
| Date | 26 September 2001 |
| Creators | McNown Perry, Cindy A. |
| Contributors | Funk, Kenneth H. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0021 seconds