The goal is to improve the group process by removing communication barriers, providing decision making tools, and adding structure to group meetings. A formidable task facing those wishing to incorporate a GDSS is the uncertainty potential users feel about the technology. Since GDSS alters the way individuals interact within a group, a period of adjustment and resistance is normal. For group members to accept this new procedure, they need to be committed to the collaboration process as well as have support from top management. A typical example of a groupware product is the revision of a joint document.
Some groupware products limit access to a document to one member at a time.
Others offer real-time, simultaneous interaction that allows multiple users access to a single document at the same time. As one group member alters the document, the other members see the original document plus the proposed changes on their computer screen. Documents can include text, image files, graphics, and in some cases video and sound. As users become more comfortable with the editing and sharing capabilities of the software, productivity gains can be expected. For example, Burroughs Welcome, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, uses groupware to produce detailed research reports.