Proceedings of International Conference
on Mechanical, Electrical and Medical Intelligent System 2018
KeynoteA GDSS Design that Supports Anonymous Communication
for the Convergent Process
Atsushi Iwai
Faculty of Social and Information Studies, Gunma University, 4-2 Aramaki-machi,
Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, 371-8510, Japaniwai@gunma-u.ac.jp
Keywords: GDSS, anonymity, privacy, groupthink, convergent process

Abstract. Implementing anonymous communication is regarded as one of the most effective ways toimprove group decision-making. A prime example is that of electronic brainstorming. However,most of the successful supporting frameworks of anonymous communication are designed for thedivergence phase in a decision process where participants are actively exploring options or novel
ideas. Very few designs have been presented for the convergence phase that follows, wherein
participants discuss and seek a conclusion or an answer. It seems to be assumed that anonymity may
eliminate various tools of persuasion, which would consequently increase difficulty in coordinating
discussion. Any difficulties or benefits of supporting anonymous communication should be, to someextent, dependent on the system design. As such, according to this speaker’s research experiences,establishing a web-based GDSS that supports anonymous communication for the convergent process
would be a feasible endeavor.

1. Introduction
This keynote lecture concerns IT-based communication systems, or group decision support
systems, through which people can engage in discussion with calm minds and generate rational
conclusions. To facilitate this open-minded and free discussion, my systems guarantee user
anonymity. Further, by ameliorating the communication environment of decision makers, theirconclusions shall be improved, albeit through indirect intervention. Therefore, in this presentation, I
will introduce an experimental system design to this effect based on a synthesis of computer scienceand sociology.
In the field of sociology, where I also encountered theories related to psychology and economics,
I was influenced by Irving L. Janis’ theory of Groupthink ([1]), Social Choice theory by Amartya
Sen ([2]), and Salutogenesis by Aaron Antonovsky ([3]). All of these complex theories relate to theresearch behind group decision support systems or GDSSs. However, to establish the context behind
this approach, I shall focus on examining Janis’ Groupthink.
2. Groupthink
Janis was a 20th century American psychologist who carefully reviewed large scale failures inforeign policy decision-making processes and found a cohesive mode of thinking that ischaracteristic of those decision-making bodies. He termed this mode of thinking as “groupthink” andtermed the opposite mode, which is replaced by groupthink, as “independent critical thinking.”
Groupthink is a term to refer to “a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeplyProceedings of International Conference
on Mechanical, Electrical and Medical Intelligent System 2018
Keynoteinvolved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override theirmotivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.”
According to Janis, policy makers comprising an amiable group find it relatively easy to authorize
even dehumanizing solutions such as large-scale bombings. Included in the list of eight symptoms ofgroupthink there are, for example, items stating: “Self-censorship of deviations from the apparent
group consensus,” or “Direct pressure on any member who expresses strong arguments against anyof the group’s stereotypes, illusions, or commitments.”
By abandoning independent critical thinking, the quality of decision making becomes ever more
likely to deteriorate and this is groupthink’s fatal flaw. This risk is not limited to governmental
policy-making processes but is omnipresent throughout society. Consider the construction of a new
nuclear power plant or installation of a new school system. Both supporters and opponents become
prone to evaluating unanimity in members more than to a realistic appraisal of alternative courses ofaction. Groupthink can also influence broader conflicts between the majority and the minority oramong various ethnic groups and can cause strained relations to deteriorate further.
3. GDSS to Cope with Groupthink
Informality in human interaction and group insulation are among the major causes of groupthink.
Regarding personality or informality in interaction, Janis states, “the more amiability and esprit decorps among the members of a policy-making in-group, the greater is the danger that independent
critical thinking will be replaced by groupthink.” As for group insulation, or the closed nature of agroup, he declares that “the more insulated a cohesive group of executives becomes, the greater are
the chances that its policy decisions will be products of groupthink.”
The characteristics of “personality” and “group insulation,” however, seem to be restrained whencertain types of computer mediated communication, or CMC, are employed compared with face toface, or FTF, communication. For example, when people use a bulletin board system or BBS, aninstance of CMC, its non-verbal typing-based input method appears to facilitate more formal orimpersonal communication. Systems in which anonymity is permitted have the merit of freeing
participants from the emotional constraints of age, gender, position, and human relationships,
allowing them to express themselves in accordance with their beliefs. Moreover, interactions on aBBS are essentially open to a broader audience. This open nature provides the very antithesis ofgroup insulation. If we successfully harness the “impersonality” and “openness” of CMC and enforce
the conventional decision-making process, the result might prove fruitful.
However, how can such a decision support system be properly implemented? The lack of social
cues in CMC is often mentioned as a cause of problematic bipolarization in a society. Thepredicament is that “Anonymity may lead to emotion-based irresponsible remarks.” How then is apeaceful, cooperative discourse achievable? The feasibility of establishing such a framework hinges
on a system suitably designed to cope with this problem.
4. An Experimental System Design
In this context, I propose to introduce a unique group decision support system design. Throughout
this lecture, I will provide an example of GDSS design, which my colleague and I have previously
presented ([4]). Implementation of the decision support system that guarantees users anonymity also
relates to the issues faced in designing various data protection techniques that are gaining attention
these days. To make this point clear, I would like to discuss recent achievements in my research ofprivacy-enhanced data collection system ([5], [6]). The target system in the research is comprised ofboth a framework that analyzes input data to reveal elements that can cause an information leakage

Proceedings of International Conferenceon Mechanical, Electrical and Medical Intelligent System 2018
Keynoteand also a mechanism to correct such flaws through modification of the questionnaire design in thedatabase.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by grants from the Telecommunications Advancement Foundation andGunma University.
References[1] I. L. Janis, Victims of Groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions andfiascoes, Houghton Mifflin, 1972.
[2] A. Sen, Collective Choice and Social Welfare, Holden-Day, 1970.
[3] A. Antonovsky, Unraveling the Mystery of Health: How people manage stress and stay well,
Jossey-Bass, 1987.
[4] A. Iwai and K. Sado, A Design of Web-based GDSS that Supports Anonymous Communicationand the Convergent Process IMECS2010(International Multi-Conference of Engineering andComputer Scientist 2010) Proceedings, Vol.1, pp693-698, 2010.
[5] A. Iwai, "A Design of Privacy-Enhanced Survey System that can be Used for Hospital Evaluation
by Patients", Proceedings of ICMEMIS2017(1st International Conference on Mechanical,
Electrical and Medical Intelligent System), 2017.
[6] A. Iwai, "Optimization of Attributes Elimination Order in a Privacy-Enhanced Survey System",
Proceedings of International Conference on Technology and Social Science 2018 (ICTSS2018), 2018.