Virtual Meetings with Hundreds of Managers

Harry Arkesteijn
Rabobank Capabel

Jasper De Rooij And Michèl Van Eekhout
Groupsupport

Michiel Van Genuchten And Theo Bemelmans
Eindhoven University of Technology, Faculty of Technology Management, Research Group I & T, Postbox 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands (E-mail: m.j.i.m.van.genuchten@tm.tue.nl)

Abstract

This paper describes the use of a Group Support System (GSS) in a distributed meeting with hundreds of managers. All were managing directors of the local banks of Rabobank. The distributed meeting has contributed to reducing the lead-time of a decision of hundreds of managers from an estimated 6 months to 4 weeks while at the same time increasing the involvement of the managers. The paper discusses the processes followed, the results achieved, the feedback from the managers as collected in a survey and the lessons learned. The experience shows that large-scale virtual meetings with business managers are feasible today. The participants recognize the usefulness of the virtual meeting but also indicate the need to improve the processes followed and the IT used.

Key words: anonymity, Group Support System, process support, virtual meeting

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Group Decision and Negotiation 13: 211-221, 2004