The groupware world views identified below are based on the author's interpretation. Other theories treat the system as a black box or as a collection of features. Structural features are the specific technological design strategies that support the spirit. Classification Table 1 outlines the systems studied for this research and their initial classification. The perspectives serve as theoretical constructs for interpreting the study.
Deterministic groupware assumes that technology can significantly alter group behavior.
For example, the Coordinator assumes that the problems of communication are solved if people follow the speech act taxonomy. The design of Coordinator made it difficult for people to avoid the speech act taxonomy in electronic communication. GroupSystems is designed so that participants in a meeting can work only on the topic selected by the facilitator. Softer deterministic themes assume that some aspects of organizational change are brought about directly as a result of new technology, while other aspects emerge from social interaction. The key difference between emergence and determinism is the significance afforded to technology as an agent of change.