VROOM
For Effective Decision Making

The general idea behind holding meetings is to bring out joint decisions that involve everyone and thereby improve The quality of decisions. This is far from what usually happens; numerous digressions and no concrete action. When this happens online, it is a series of emails or conversations without real decision making. Even the Decision Support software lead us nowhere. Voting systems on the other hand help people cast their vote on any issue, which largely remains nothing but a vote.

David Johnson, noted cyberlaw lawyer felt there was a need for one such software that actually helped in decision making. Actively involved in the activities of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) he has developed a tool that proffers to enhance context and aid visualisation of online decision making. Called VROOM, for virtual workroom it guides a group up the path to the final decision very unobtrusively, so to say.

So what does the VROOM do? It makes available the status of the ongoing conversation. With a variety of colourful displays, it tracks the progress of the proposals made. When used for individual purposes, it can notify the person concerned when people disagree or vote for a proposal. Likewise, it can highlight the contributions made by trusted colleagues and help filter out the irrelevant ones. All that this password protected software expects of the people involved is to define their presence in the whole process. This is an effective mode of social discipline where everyone has to declare themselves.

The software helps set a deadline or to bring about a vote. In this way people may keep a track of whether they are wandering or rushing. In its most ideal situation it helps group members to be organised and to effect a decision in the time at hand.

Cynicists may point out that no such tool would serve where people themselves do not tend to be disciplined. Moreover, this software may require more than just a PC. The actual journey of the software into an environment of emails, spreadsheets, and supporting documents could be troublesome. Johnson makes his point very clear; VROOM is only a support system for information sharing. When played according to the rules it enables groups to come up with the much needed results. Scepticisms apart, the fact remains that this software may actually make social interactions more effective. This is done not by controlling group behaviour but by revealing it. It is to a meeting what the graph is to a spreadsheet. Visualisation of proceedings effectively keeps track of the discussions.

Can such softwares really work? Sometimes seeing may aid not just belief but comprehension too.