Task and Technology Interaction (TTI): A Theory of Technological Support for Group Tasks

The Group Support Systems’ (GSS) research literature, filled with disjointed empirical investigations, yearns for a theory to guide researchers and practitioners in their efforts to prescribe support technologies for a given group task. A theory of Task and Technology Interaction (TTI) is proposed as a viable approach for guiding the research, and offering practical guidelines for MIS/GSS practitioners. The TTI is based upon a reinterpretation of contemporary conceptualizations of group support technologies and a new representation of group tasks. Central to the proposed conceptualizations are the functional requirements of a task. A strategy for applying the assertions of TTI is outlined and directions for future research are suggested.