Matching groupware to user needs: an exploratory study

Coordinating activities in cross-disciplinary projects is a complex task. Complexity levels increase when members of groups involved in the project are physically separated and work at different times with different computing tools. One aspect of the Multi-Disciplinary Design and Analysis Group's research at Clemson University is to explore the factors which will successfully lead to the selection or development of a computing application that will support group efforts carried out by students and faculty belonging to different disciplines. This paper outlines our efforts to understand the functionality desired by scientists and engineers when they work in a collaborative environment, to evaluate some existing groupware applications, and to review a system that offers a number of essential features. In addition, we provide a brief background of computer supported cooperative work and groupware, detail the methodology used to address groupware selection, summarize and interpret the results, and conclude with recommendations.