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Abstract

Single-user applications are designed with a ‘discretionary use’ model. In contrast, for large systems, upper management support is considered crucial to adoption. Which applies to groupware? The relatively low cost of groupware reduces high-level visibility, but some argue that social dynamics will force mandated use—the large system approach. Interview studies of recently adopted on-line meeting schedulers in two large organizations found successful, near-universal use achieved without managerial mandate. Versatile functionality and ease of use associated with discretionary products appeared to be factors leading to adoption. Other factors included organization-wide infrastructure and substantial peer pressure that developed over time.

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Grudin, J., Palen, L. (1995). Why Groupware Succeeds: Discretion or Mandate?. In: Marmolin, H., Sundblad, Y., Schmidt, K. (eds) Proceedings of the Fourth European Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work ECSCW ’95. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0349-7_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0349-7_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4155-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0349-7

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