Process restricted AST: an assessment of group support systems appropriation and meeting outcomes using participant perceptions

In an advancement of Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST), Wheeler and Valacich (1996) offer Process Restricted Adaptive Structuration Theory (PRAST) as a means by which GSS appropriation may be assessed. Using an external assessment involving microcoding, they demonstrated in their study that so-called appropriation mediators may enhance the faithful appropriation of GSS structures. We offer further validation of their findings using individuals’ perceptions to assess faithfulness of appropriation, consensus on appropriation, and the decision process and outcomes. We obtained, in general, the same findings as did Wheeler and Valacich, and propose perceptual measures as a more convenient means by which such phenomena may be assessed. We believe that our approach to measuring these phenomena may have merit, especially in situations where detailed microcoding may be impractical.