INTRODUCTION The study of Group Support Systems (GSS) as an aid to group decision-making in organizations is important to organizational researchers for practical and scientific reasons (DeSanctis and Gallupe, 1987; Huber et al., 1993). GSS are a promising vehicle for better managing groups. When meeting as a group, group members bring with them external status characteristics, which are derived from their formal position within an organization's hierarchy, personal reputation, community or social status (age, sex, or race) (Berger et al., 1972). Some common problems experienced by decision-making groups include the extreme influence exerted by high-status members, the lack of acknowledgment of low-status members' ideas, and a low tolerance exhibited toward minority or controversial opinions (DeSanctis and Gallupe, 1987). Group members with low external status characteristics have difficulty achieving influence over group decisions (Ridgeway, 1982). Some group members are often reluctant to contribute, because of their shyness, low status, and/or the controversial ideas being discussed (DeSanctis and Gallupe, 1987).
