GDC Purpose

The GDC provides the only student-focused group system support facility in the Northern Plains. This system facilitates group problem solving in a meeting atmosphere characterized by open, collaborative, and criticism-free idea generation and objective evaluation. Central to the facility is an interactive computer-based environment.

Summary

August 2002 marked the end of four very successful years of the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Group Decision Center (GDC). The GDC is a technology laboratory consisting of a 22 laptop computer network linked by the GroupSystem software for electronic meetings and surveys. The purpose of the GDC at NDSU is primarily for student, faculty, and administration use; secondarily, for research and service/outreach projects. In addition to the development of student skills, the GDC is used by faculty and administration for planning, evaluation, research conducted in the GDC. The community service and outreach activities are enhanced by four years of the Cargill Scholarship Program support. The scholarship hours result from Cargill's in-kind user hours based on a percentage of contributions to the GDC. The GDC's FY02 Activities by User Category are profiled on the table below and described in this Annual Report.

	FY02 Activities: User	Hours	# of Events
	Administration	119.75	56
	Administration Survey	50.09	19
	Class	90.25	73
	Class Survey	44.33	25
	Outreach (Community)	341.75	119
	Outreach Survey	90.25	44
	Student Org's	17.75	13
	Tri-College	6	6
	Total Hours	760.17	355
	FY99 Activity Totals	431	197
	FY00 Activity Totals	486.25	306
	FY01 Activity Totals	716.8	332
	FY02 Activity Totals	760.17	355

FY2002 GOALS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Overall Goal:To enhance the land grant mission of NDSU-Teaching, Research, and Outreach. The program goals are to:

• Increase the quality and number of services to students, faculty, staff, administration and off-campus clients.
• Develop alternative delivery systems to increase the access to the on and off campus clients.

Overall Accomplishments: Quantity and Quality: The number of GDC Activities continues to increase in all areas from 332 events/716.8 hours last year to 355 events/760.2 hours this year. The GDC evens evaluations continue to reflect satisfaction with the meeting design and process.

This increase is due to successful meetings and the continued changes in the types of GDC applications.

Meeting Applications: Demonstrations and short meetings continue to be replaced by longer and more complex meetings. Diverse groups are realizing effectiveness which allows everyone to share ideas simultaneously and anonymously. GDC polling and reporting tools enhance meeting outcomes.

Survey Tool Applications: The newest feature of the GroupSystems software, the survey, is now tested and available for use in the GDC and on internet. In FY02 use of the survey tool more than tripled-(36 surveys were designed, tested and administered for students, faculty, staff, administration and numerous off campus clients.) This tool is widely used. This use ranges from undergradute class survey projects to graduate student research to business surveys to the ND State Judicial Conference Survey of Judges. About one half of the surveys are administered on the web.

Alternative Delivery System:The GDC is wireless as of August 2002. Surveys are not only administered in the GDC but also on the web. The requests for virtual meeting are being addressed in FY2003.

Teaching, Research, Administration and Outreach Goals: Each area is described in the following sections.

Teaching Goal: To develop a variety of skills in problem solving, communication, teamwork, research and consensus building. The students are involved with the GDC on the following levels: 1) an initial exposure to GroupSystems technology through class sessions; 2) class instruction using the laboratory throughout the entire course; 3) student research projects including surveys and focus groups and 4) training sessions with hands-on experience using group decision software and actual facilitation hours in GDC events.

Teaching Accomplishments: One thousand and thirty-seven students used the GDC for class/organization meetings and surveys. Students used the survey tool for the first time in FY02. These students using the GDC are from departments across the campus, e.g., English, MIS, CS, Industrial Engineering, Construction Engineering, Human Development and Education, and Bio Sciences. The student meetings in the GDC involve orientation sessions, course evaluations, class research projects, graduated student feedback to their department, etc. In addition to classes, 39 students designed, tested and administered 25 surveys in the GDC, which involved 1288 responses to the surveys, and 108 students used the GDC for 23 club and organization meetings.

Research Goal: To focus on student research projects and cross-disciplinary research. Planned research projects include: 1) develop objective measures of group performance; 2) comparative studies on the learning and retention benefits of GDC technology vs. the more traditional instruction methods; and 3) case studies on the impact of GDC technology in the organizations. The following outcomes reflect FY2002 efforts.

Research Accomplishments: Undergraduate and graduate students used the GDC for 16 focus group discussions to gather information for their research projects. Three upper-class students assisted with gathering and reporting data for the Community Capacity Adult/Youth Meetings and Fargo Youth Initiative Meeting.

Faculty and Administrators are beginning to use the GDC for campus and community research. For example, a team of faculty and staff are working with the Fargo Human Rights Commission to design, test and administer a survey that will be a means of developing benchmarks for Fargo. A grant for Food Safety is designed to use the GDC for survey and focus group activities.

Administration Goal: To aid the University administration.

The University uses the GDC to analyze some of NDSU procedures and explore new approaches. The GDC is used to gather information from all levels of the University, (i.e., students, staff, faculty and administrators.) The simultaneous and anonymous features of the software were critical to this activity. In addition, the GDC proves extremely beneficial in activities ranging from Grant Writing, Assessment of Courses, Promotion, and Tenure/Evaluation to Search Committee processes. All departments are encouraged to use the GDC for the departmental assessment process.

Administration Accomplishments: Administration's use of the GDC in FY2002 shows an increase of 70 meetings. These meeting types range from departmental planning sessions, technology fee proposal review, Division I discussions, ITS surveys about developing statewide MSP proposal.

Outreach Goal: To directly impact decision making and consensus building efforts when addressing current local, state, and regional problems.

Cargill and NDSU initiated a Cargill Scholarship Program October 1999. This program directly enhances the NDSU land-grant mission and provides GDC users a percentage of free time donated from Cargill hours. As a land-grant institution, NDSU plays an extensive outreach role statewide. The GDC is playing a key role in this mission. The GDC allows us to take the technology to the people.

During FY02, the three steps were taken. First, a wireless network is in place making the out-state meetings more effective and efficient. The laptop lab is greatly enhanced by the application of wireless technology for these meetings. With a wireless network, the GDC meetings can accommodate various meeting formats, (i.e. multiple focus groups, breaking the participants into small groups, or separating groups during meetings for multiple activities.) The wireless network improves the professional, high-tech image of the GDC.

Second, the Web survey tool is available to on and off campus clients both in the GDC and on the web. As indicated in the previous section of this report the use of this tool nearly tripled.

A third step in developing an alternative delivery system is the development of virtual meeting capacity. The number of requests for virtual meetings is on the increase from on and off campus clients. The GDC staff, with assistance from ITS staff and MIS faculty and students, will be researching the possibility of distributive meetings. The distributive format may be a key to developing a "sense of community" in a sparsely populated state where repeated travel is time consuming and costly.

Outreach Accomplishments: FY2002 outreach activities nearly doubled from 86 events to 162 events. This increase is directly due to President Chapman's funding of both the Community Capacity and Fargo Youth Initiative Proposals. In additional, the GDC continues to respond to requests statewide for meetings. These meetings range from the Farmer's Union meetings in Minot and Bismarck, State Judicial Conference, Fargo Human Relations Commission, to 4-H Foundation Board.

Outreach Impact: The GDC's impact found in is making a significant difference in the "electronic town hall meetings" which range from community strategic planning, to the discussion of both the youth and service providers addressing youth issues, concerns and unmet needs. For example, Fargo Youth Initiative (FYI), a pilot project made possible by Cargill Scholarship Hours, was used to develop a proposal for a community wide project. An FYI proposal was funded by NDSU President's grant program and activity began in August 2001, a further indication that the GDC is viewed as a valuable tool. The youth represents a cross section of the community ranging from 14-20 years old, and adult participants are parents and service providers including the Chief of Police, the Superintendent of the Public Schools, the juvenile court representative, and other service providers. This project received a great deal of positive attention as a vehicle to empower youth-becoming engaged citizens involved in the development of solutions for their own concerns. NDSU and Cargill are highlighted in all the meetings.

An NDSU Capacity Building Grant is funding a similar project to provide the same resources to eight communities statewide. Work is underway with those communities. Again this will give NDSU and Cargill and statewide visibility.

The GDC is being used to administer a Tribal College/NDSU Collaborative 1.2 million-dollar grant from the Office of Navy Research to increase the number of Native American students in Science/Math/Engineering. The GDC was used for the discussion and development of the grant as well as obtaining feedback from the students and administrators/faculty involved at all sites.

A statewide committee headed by Dr. Bill Martin, NDSU, used the GDC to develop a mathematics and science (MSP) proposal. Again the strength of simultaneous and anonymous discussion was particularly valuable in an attempt to discuss and move to consensus. The reporting and voting tools moved the proposal development along efficiently.

The Fort Berthold Community College continues to use the GDC for strategic planning. The Standing Rock Reservation Tribal Planning Committee and the Sitting Bull Community College are exploring the use of the GDC. Strategic planning activities at the GDC also included the Cando Health Center, FM United Way, FM Area Foundation, EideBailly LLP, Native American Outreach Council, Federation of Families for Metal Health, Women's Overall Wellness Conferences and Great Plains Alliance for Computers in Writing Conference.

Cargill Scholarship Program: The Funds in the Cargill Scholarship Program have been expended.

GDC EVALUATION
The following methods describe the on-going evaluation of the GDC Activities: 1) obtain and review comments and evaluations from all users; 2) compare meeting objectives to client's stated outcomes/benefits; 3) compare participants expectations at the start of the meeting with the level of realization of those expectations; 4) trach all Center events; 5) monitor the status of the Cargill Scholarship Program; and 6) monitor the GDC's financial status. The Development Team reviews the GDC activity. The NDSU Vice President for Academic Affairs receives a quarterly update and an annual report is presented to the Advisory Board and the NDS Vice President of Academic Affairs and Cargill.

MARKETING PLAN
The GDC's Marketing Efforts:

• Off-campus client meetings generated $48,500 in GDC revenue
• Northern Plains Ethics Institure continues to use the GDC for the NPEI Board meetings.
• Development of public relations materials to Include:
• A new web site will be up in October--GDC, GSS's technology, the services available including the web surveys will be highlighted on this new site.
• Team Agenda is used for the events calendar in the office and on the web site.
• Case studies, applications and evaluation and outcome reports are currently being developed.
• News releases were distributed to state, local and campus newspapers and television stations.

 

MANAGEMENT & PERSONNEL
The Director and Joe Latimer are developing a resource base for the Center based on capital contributions, donations of equipment, and charges for services. The Director, supported by an Administrative Assistant, manages daily operations of the GDC and facilitates sessions. These positions funded by NDSU with the director's appointment at 100% and the administrative assistant at 100%. Thirteen facilitators are trained; they are representatives of the colleges and extension services. Facilitation of non-fee generating meetings (NDSU classes and NDSU student groups) will count as part of the university service requirement for faculty. Facilitators will be compensated for facilitation of fee generating meetings (NDSU administrative meetings and off campus groups) commensurate with the University policies. The GDC continues to benefit from NDSU Computer Center technical assistance, technical advice and loan of laptops to accommodate larger meetings.

Financial Planning The GDC is entering its fifth year. The Cargill Scholarship Program is completed. New resource bases need to be identified and developed. One $10,000 dollar grant has been funded. Other proposals were not funded this round. Joe Latimer and the director will be developing a new business plan for Year 5 and beyond.

FY2003 Project Goals
OVERALL: Continue to increase the quality and number of GDC activities. Develop alternative delivery system. Develop solid facilitator base including students. Continue to develop income base.

TEACHING:
Ongoing:

• 50% GDC student access

Expand GDC Use:

• 60-75 classes
  
• 15-20 student research projects
  
• 30-40 student club & organization orientation/demonstrations/meetings

• Research Distributive Meetings for "target population" and virtual meetings on campus as the first phase

RESEARCH:
Ongoing:

• Increase research applications
  
• Community Adult/Teen issues discussions
  
• Continue research activities that are a part of outreach activities, i.e., Fargo Human Relations Commission Project
  New:
  
• Develop synchronous and asynchronous distributive meetings, outreach and on-campus research activities.
  
• Support Northern Plains Ethics Institute related research.

ADMINISTRATION:
Expand GDC Use:

• 30-35 orientations/demontration sessions
  
• 15 administrative office sessions
  
• 15-30 sessions for the seven colleges on campus and extension sites off campus
  
• 10-20 departmental sessions

OUTREACH:
Expand GDC Use:

• Outreach activities
  
• 10-12 Public Agencies
  
• 15 Partners
  
• 20-30 Community (state-wide) events

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E-Mail: ndsu.gdc@ndsu.edu
www.ndsu.edu/gdc
NDSU Group Decision Center
320 Family Life Center
Department 2030
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Phone: 701.231.6414