ABSTRACT
The most interesting aspect of problem-solving is why people fail to use a process either on their own problems or to facilitate teams in solving problems. The failure to deploy problem-solving processes is probably due to our assumptions about what is acceptable or appropriate behaviour in the social aspect of the work-situation. The relevance of Milgram's experiment to problem-solving lies in the link with social behaviour and the cues which the ambient work environment offers. These cues for social obedience, in the form of body language, the semiotics of architecture, clothing, and perceived hierarchy discourage the application of problem-solving. Groupware links individuals, and data through a protocol mirroring the problem-solving process to make decisions and help individuals to work together constructively.
