Technology Assisted Group Solutions (TAGS)

What Is the TAGS System? 

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) utilizes its Technology Assisted 

Group Solutions (TAGS) System, a powerful network of computers and customized software, 

to help groups:

 Solve problems more effectively,

 Make better decisions,

 Implement decisions more successfully,

 Conduct successful meetings, and

 Conduct surveys

What Are the Benefits?

FMCS customers who use TAGS can expect to conduct shorter, more productive, problemfocused meetings. TAGS helps participants share knowledge and opinions more constructively, generate better ideas and build stronger commitment to joint action. Also, in today’s 

world, geographic dispersion of organizational members requires innovative and effective 

methods for bringing groups together for problem-solving efforts. It is designed to help minimize the impact of geographic separation and minimize transaction costs associated with 

group decision-making. 

How the TAGS System Works

On the Internet

TAGS acts as a virtual conference center, accessed via a direct link in an e-mail message, 

or by entering their user ID and password at the TAGS website. Participants go directly to a 

secure, virtual conference room to either join a "live" meeting or may access one or multiple 

stored topics. Topics range from a survey, an asynchronous brainstorming session, an opportunity to assess ideas, a chance to view results, to an action planning session or one of several other online TAGS functions. In some cases, participants can complete entire tasks 

online during or between meetings that used to require multiple face-to-face meetings. The 

online work is designed to shorten and better focus the time spent face-to-face.

FMCS | 250 E St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

Group Problem Solving and Decision Making Tools

Could your organization or group benefit from FMCS 

technology-assisted collaboration tools?
FMCS | 250 E St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

Combined Internet/Face-to-Face

TAGS supports meetings where some attendees are face- to-face and others are attending 

electronically. In most cases, this is a huge savings of time and money.

Face-to-Face Meetings

In a well-run traditional meeting, participants individually voice ideas while a facilitator tries to 

capture them on a flip chart, one-by-one. In a TAGS meeting, participants simultaneously 

contribute ideas with our easy-to-use software on a network of computers. All ideas immediately post to an electronic flip chart displayed on each person's computer and on a large 

screen at the front of the room. 

Participants build on others' ideas and continue to offer new ideas in their own words and 

with complete anonymity. Using a mixture of group discussion and TAGS tools, participants 

can categorize and prioritize ideas, use electronic "ballots" to anonymously indicate their level of support for each idea, view tabulated results on-screen, and discuss results in an effort 

to reach consensus. 

TAGS technology does not replace expert mediation skills and human interaction among 

participants in a face-to-face meeting. Instead, the mediator uses this technology to enhance participant interaction and outcome. Once agreement is reached, participants can 

use TAGS to assign tasks with completion targets and implementation timelines. The mediator 

can print out complete meeting notes before participants leave the meeting and archive 

meeting data for future use (or shred the information to ensure confidentiality).

Applications

TAGS can be highly effective in:

 Interest-based negotiations 

 Traditional bargaining

 Surveys via the Internet

 Strategic planning

 Remote meetings

 Labor-Management Committee meetings

 Negotiated Rulemaking or other Public Policy dispute discussions

Collaborative processes can be greatly enhanced by TAGS engagement linking live and 

remote participants in seamless problem-solving processes or simply bringing large groups of 

people together via the Internet. 

For More Information

For more information regarding the TAGS System or other FMCS technology assisted collaboration tools, please see our website at www.fmcs.gov or contact the FMCS Headquarters 

Office at 202-606-8100.

“TAGS technology tools help FMCS customers conduct shorter, more productive, problem-focused meetings and 

help minimize transaction costs associated with group decision-making.”