Confronting environmental dilemmas through group decision support systems

The dilemmas experienced by business organizations as they confront the many challenges associated with their growth and operation have been referred to as wicked problems.'' To resolve these problems, the practice of management traditionally has taken two approaches: (1) decision modeling and (2) group discussion (usually in the form of face-to-face meetings). Group decision support systems (GDSSs) build on these two approaches to provide computer-based support for group planning, idea generation, issue evaluation, choice making, and related decision activities. This paper delineates a typology of decision support systems based on their functionality, holistic attributes, and interface characteristics. An example is described along with applications and research issues. The potential usefulness of GDSSs for confronting environmental dilemmas is illustrated through a case scenario in which a large metropolitan area is considering alternative strategies for dealing with increased highway congestion and associated air pollution.