Achieving Group Cohesion using Information Technology Tools: A Systems Perspective

This paper defines a systems theoretic model of group consensus in an information and communication technology intense environment. The model describes states of group consensus and how interventions can move the system to other states depending on the current state and the level of the intervention. The systems theoretic model is shown to be more useful in understanding why groups are influenced and how effective interventions are likely to be than the construct/influence theoretic models that dominate research in the field and can be significant tool for collaborative systems design.