Integrated Information System for Group Collaboration

Abstract

A group support system (GSS) was specified, implemented, and evaluated for usability and user satisfaction. An agricultural systems research team was seeking software solutions to improve accessibility of project information and provide a collaborative work space. Team members were initially interviewed to determine the desired features of the system. The GSS was primarily implemented using Microsoft products of Windows Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services, and OneNote. SharePoint provided a web-based interface for discussion boards and file sharing and storage. OneNote was the client software used by team members to record project information and provided a means of sharing information via the SharePoint software. Team members were surveyed to evaluate system functionality, usability, and satisfaction. The majority of the group members responded positively to questions relating to use of the chosen system, indicating positive results in using GSS for the case study. Users were satisfied with GSS content over half the time, accuracy most of the time, and timeliness most of the time. Since this initial case study, 25 GSS have been implemented by the team co-leaders and other faculty.