Extending coordination theory to the field of distributed group multiple criteria decision-making

Distributed group decision-making becomes prevalent in networked and informationbased organizations today. In addition to providing GDSS with modelling tools such as MCDM techniques to effectively support distributed group decision-making tasks, coordination is deemed to be critical to the success of such complicated processes. Current coordination theory in the field of distributed group decision-making does not explicitly deal with process using MCDM techniques, although a few studies have adapted organizational coordination theory in the field of general GDSS research. This paper aims to provide theoretical view of coordination in the field of group MCDM processes based on existing organizational theory and its extensions in GDSS. We propose such a theoretical extension by formulating parallel and sequential coordination methods in the context of distributed group MCDM, which represent the loosest and tightest task interdependence. We then present an implementation of these coordination methods in a GDSS environment with respect to system design and group decisionmaking procedures. The proposed coordination methods may provide guidelines for GDSS designers and practitioners in coordinating and structuring distributed group MCDM processes.