Key issues in the design of an asynchronous system to support meeting preparation

A review is made of the most important decisions in the design of asynchronous systems to support the preparation of business decision meetings. These decisions are illustrated with the choices made for the development of SISCO, a system of this type. The presentation considers issues in the discussion model, the group memory, the communication and visualization mechanisms, and the development of a meeting preparation sequence: how to start a session, carry it out and close it. Issues concerning coordination, participation and awareness in meeting preparation sessions are also discussed.