On-line group process support

A variety of approaches to the design and use of on-line group decision support systems have been described and tested. This paper describes an on-line system to aid groups to identify rapidly and then explore their differences of opinion in debate in order to reach decisions. The approach involves a specially designed group decision support system, called TEAMWORKER. Case-studies describing uses of the system in varied contexts are presented. The experiences of these applications are linked with existing theoretically orientated literature from a number of associated fields in order to construct a process framework as a guide to users of this type of approach.