| Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between the use of group support systems and power and influence in an organization. In order to gain an understanding of organizational effects, this research was conducted in the field. Participants in the study were employees of a division of a large, international company. Semi-structured and open-ended interview techniques were used to gain an emic perspective of the relationships between group support systems and power and influence. Open coding and content analysis procedures were used to analyze the verbal data.;Findings and conclusions. Group support technologies appear to have an equalizing effect on the perceived distribution of power and influence in organizations by increasing the sphere and frequency of communication, increasing the scope and frequency of participation, increasing the sphere and frequency of influence, increasing accessibility to information and to persons, making participation in decision making processes more equal, making dependencies among subunits more equal, and reducing the perceived power distance to decision makers. Group support technologies further appear to empower those who use them by increasing participation in the decision making process, increasing the ability to exercise control and take initiative, and increasing opportunities to learn. Additionally, group support technologies appear to provide an organizational memory, to bring the "right" people into organizational processes, to provide convenient and reliable communication. |
