GDSS' formative fundaments

Abstract

A hermeneutic analysis of current group decision support systems (GDSS) is undertaken, interpreting their functionality, motivations, and usage to uncover theoretical/philosophical bases. GDSS treat decision making as a rational aggregation-and-selection of options ( take a given ) and support it as a production task conducted as if participants were remotely distributed. Employing a venue framework , this is analyzed as evidence for consistent, fundamental cognitivism and objectivism deriving from relevant historical influences. The contextualization and dialogic interaction ( give and take ) undervalued or ignored in current GDSS are identified as key issues for work toward constructively augmenting such systems.