Collaboration technology from face-to-face to the office

The authors describe three levels of support for work teams: the independent level, the coordination level, and the collaboration level. They then describe a technical approach and model for group support systems research. The model addresses computer support for both face-to-face and dispersed environments. Activities supported in the model are idea generation, idea organization, idea prioritization, and idea development and exposition. The lessons learned in the laboratory and in the field are then described. The authors conclude with an expansion of the original research model and a discussion of current and future research directions at the University of Arizona