Distributed decision making: a research agenda

Beyond the narrow objective of supporting individual problem solving, computerized decision support systems have a potential for more directly supporting decisions distributed across multiple participants. The realization of distributed support system potential depends on a clear understanding of distributed decision making. Here, we introduce the broad outlines of a conceptual, general-purpose framework for describing and studying distributed decision making. It provides a basis for addressing both the structure and dynamics of distributed decision making with respect to the three elements of individual problem solving, communication, and coordination. The framework provides a foundation for comparing, contrasting, designing, and managing distributed decision making systems which are jointly human-computer in nature. We offer a commentary on a variety of research issues that deserve to be investigated within the framework's context.