Introduction to decision, negotiation, leadership, social communities, and technology minitrack

From a systems perspective, leadership can be viewed as a complex process leading to a negotiation agreement constituting a common ground for involved participants. This process implies the need of using technologies to support connectedness leading to negotiated outcomes, in addition to centralized and decentralized data and models. As Joseph Nye states in his 2010 book on "The Power to Lead," "leaders as those who help the group create and achieved shared goals," (p. XI) leadership is an integral part of effective group decision and negotiation (GDN) processes. Recognition of this bridge between the GDN and leadership areas allows us to bring to functioning leadership the technology available to support GDN processes. Also, the concept of connectedness has now become pervasive in social generations that are transforming the way organizations work and serve their customers and stakeholders.