An Experimental Investigation on the Impact of Mediated Group Memory on Collaborative Small Group Decision-Making

ABSTRACT In this paper we analyse the empirical findings on the impact of mediated group memory (guided information retrieval) on collaborative small group decision-making. In a first approach, we implemented a group decision support system which consists of communication software, decision support software (the Analytic Hierarchy Process method), document exchanging facilities, but most important allowing groups of people to travel together as a team through the Internet. This virtual team is guided by a “knowledge mediator” who determines through the phases of the decision—making process the analogous sources of information. In a first series of experiments, we examine the effects this structure has on small groups of decision makers carrying out tasks with varying complexity and with a need for “rich” multimedia information exchange. The main factors that were taken into account are the time spent to reach the decision, the number of alternative scenarios considered by the group, but also the particula...