The Impact of Group Support Systems on Group Conflict and Conflict Management

Abstract:

This article proposes a model for examining the impacts of group support systems (GSS) on conflict and conflict management, based on literature on GSS, group conflict, and structuration theory. It reports on a study of the impacts of GSS use on group conflict and conflict management. A total of2S groups participated in the study. After an initial training session, groups met for four decision-making sessions requiring a consensus decision from each group. Subjects reported their perceptions on group conflict, conflict management strategies used, and the productivity of conflict, using scales developed for this study. Overall, GSS-supported groups perceived lower amounts of issue-based and interpersonal conflict than did control groups. There were no significant differences for reported use of conflict management strategies and perceived productivity of conflict. The authors explore possible reasons for these results and propose future research issues related to conflict and conflict management within a GSS environment.

Key Words and Phrases:

• conflict
• conflict management
• group decision support systems
• group support systems

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shaila M. Miranda

Shalla M. Miranda is Assistant Professor of Decision and Information Systems at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. She received her Ph.D. in management information systems from the University of Georgia in 1991. Her research interests are in the areas of group support systems and global information systems.

Robert P. Bostrom

Robert P. Bostrom is Associate Professor of MIS at the Department of Management, University of Georgia. He holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Michigan State University, an M.S. in computer science from SUNY at Albany, and a Ph.D. in MIS from the University of Minnesota. Besides numerous publications in leading academic and practitioner journals, he has extensive consulting and training experience in the areas of MIS management, MIS design, group support systems, organizational development, and high-performing MIS professionals. His current research interests are focused on high-performing individuals, user-iesigner relationships, group support systems, end-user computing, and effective design of organizations via integrating human/social and technological dimensions.