EFFECTS OF TASK LANGUAGE DEMANDS AND TASK COMPLEXITY ON COMPUTER-MEDIATED WORK GROUPS

This study of group support systems examined the effects of the fit of task demands for numeric, visual, and conceptual language with the ability of different communication channels to transfer these types of information. It was proposed that the quality of this task language demand-communication channel fit would affect group performance and strategy. Fifty-four groups worked on two levels of a spatial-visual task that varied in level of information processing complexity. Audio conferencing groups whose communication channels were poorly matched to task language demands performed more poorly, made fewer decisions per time period, and used less appropriate strategies than did face-to-face and screensharing groups Performance decrements in the audio conferencing groups were due partly to the use of improper strategies when unaware of informational differences, and partly due to communication problems that limited the ability of the audio channel to allow effective integration or coordination of members' contributions even when group members were aware of information differences. The results are discussed in the context of information sampling disadvantages that occur when a poor fit between task language demands and communication channels inhibits sharing of information between group members.