Hierarchy and Competition in CSCW applications: Model and case study

CSCW appficarions need to adapt themselves ro fhefzinctianal and organisational structures ofpeopie that use them. However, they do not usualiy support division in groups with a certain hierarchical structure among [hem. In rhis paper, we propose and study a theoretical model of groupware applicarions that reflects those hierarcltical inreractions. The proposed model is also intended to evaluate the eflecrs in pe$omtance derived from competitive and collaborative relationships among the components of a hierarchy of groups. In order so demonstrate t h ~ above ideas, a groupware game, called Alymod, was designed and implemented using a modified version of a well-known CSCW Toofkit, namely Groupkit. Groupkit was modified in order ro support group cnteracfions in the same CSC W application. In A lyrnod, participanrs compete or collaborate within a hierarclr ical structure to achieve a common goal (completing gaps in a text, finishing n umericai series, resolving Universily course examinations, etc. .). RESUME, Les applicarions CSCW doivenr s 'adapter aux structures fonctionnelles er organisa~ionnel/es de leurs usngers. Par conrre, eiies ne rol irent habitueiIemenr pas d'2rre divides en des ensembIes organisis enntre e m de fagon hikrarchiq~e. Duns cer article, on &die et on propose un rnod2le thiurique de rravaux en groupe qui reflPrenr ces interactions hik~archiques. Ce mod& tenre aussi dyvuluer l'eflet sur le rendement des relations compi5ririves et coop6ratives entre les composants dvune higrarchie d'ensem bles. Pour dkmontrer ces idies, un jeu de groupware, AEymod, a e ' r i dessine' et exicute' en rttilisant une version rnodifike d'un Toolkit CSCW renomme' appele' Groupkit. Groupkit a e'te' mudifii pour pernettre le-s iinreractions de groupe dans la mCme applicarion CSCW. Avec Alymod, les participanrs concourent et collaboren r dans le cadre d'une slrucfure hibrarchique pour atteindre un objectif commun (complkrer des blancs dans un fexte. finir des s&n'es n umin'ques, risoudre des enamens univczrsiraires, etc).

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