Determinants and patterns of control over technology in a computerized meeting room

Groups completed a prioritization task in a “low structure” computerized meeting room. All group members had equal access to a public screen used to complete the task. How groups distributed control of the technology, the determinants of which group members took control, and the consequences of control were studied. Groups adopted either a dedicated scribe strategy, where one group member controls the public screen throughout the session, or a non-dedicated scribe strategy, where more than one member takes control of the screen during the session. Proficiency with the computer interface and social influence within a group are factors that predict whether a given member will take control of the technology. Dedicated scribe groups scored better on the task but reported a smaller increase in satisfaction after working in the room than non-dedicated scribe groups.