A decision and reconstruction support framework: elaborating on web technology

In earlier research, we focused on the development of information models for distributed GDSS (Group Decision Support Systems), closing the gap between the study of concurrency control mechanisms, document structuring and decision tracking. The properties of the developed information model (implemented into a GDSS software tool) not only achieved the proposed goals, but allowed to support the reconstruction of past decision-making processes. Decision reconstruction is the process that allows an individual or group of individuals to understand how a GDSS supported group has reached a previous decision in the context of an organization. We believe that by fostering the decision reconstruction ability, we promote their capability for information retrieval, while fostering knowledge acquisition. In this paper we present a framework for developing decision and reconstruction support systems. With this framework a GDSS encompass not only quantitative analysis and deliberative support, but also decision reconstruction or traceability support. The building blocks of the framework are: Contribution support; Preservation of the information; Structure building support; Decision making and reporting; and Visual representation. Instead of advocate the development of systems from scratch, we posit their development by using the common functionalities of Web 2.0/3.0 tools.