¹Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham, UK

Correspondence: D Shaw, Aston Business School, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. E-mail: d.a.shaw@aston.ac.uk

Received November 2004; Accepted November 2005; Published online 22 February 2006.

Abstract

Problem-structuring group workshops can be used in organizations as a consulting tool and as a research tool. One example of the latter is using a problem-structuring method (PSM) to help a group tackle an organizational issue; meanwhile, researchers collect the participants' initial views, discussion of divergent views, the negotiated agreement, and the reasoning for outcomes emerging. Technology can help by supporting participants in freely sharing their opinions and by logging data for post-workshop analyses. For example, computers let participants share views anonymously and without being influenced by others (as well as logging those views), and video-cameras can record discussions and intra-group dynamics. This paper evaluates whether technology-supported Journey Making workshops can be effective research tools that can capture quality research data when compared against theoretical performance benchmarks and other qualitative research tools.