AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FACILITATION OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED DISTRIBUTED REQUIREMENTS NEGOTIATIONS
Date
2001-03-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Group facilitation is an important element of group approaches to
Requirements Engineering (RE). The facilitation in 'traditional' face-to-face
groups is challenged by the increased globalization of the software industry.
Thorough empirical investigation of human facilitation in computer-mediated
requirements meetings is needed. This paper presents findings about the
facilitation of distributed group settings in a controlled environment. Three
professional facilitators mediate 15 three-person groups negotiating software
requirements. Facilitation in face-to-face meetings is contrasted with four
group settings in which the facilitator is physically separated from the group
or co-located with key stakeholders. Rich qualitative and behavioral data
enables an understanding of differences and similarities in the facilitation of
the distributed groups and of aspects that were detrimental or beneficial to
their facilitation. The empirical evidence indicates a reduced richness of
social behaviors in computer-mediated group settings which (1) made the group
facilitation problematic but also (2) enabled certain facilitation support in
the medium itself.
Description
Keywords
Computer Science