An increasing number of Web-based systems, including brainstorming, decision-making, and negotiation support systems, are being developed to aid users in solving particular types of problems in various contexts. These systems can be effectively used in language teaching providing learning experience in an authentic setting. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the value of integrating Inspire, a Web-based negotiation support system, to augment conventional teaching of communication and academic skills in second language courses. Inspire provides a platform and tools for negotiators to work together to resolve their differences. The preparation for the negotiation and the conduct of the negotiation in an asynchronous mode are designed to give the users control over the process and the outcome of their negotiations. Exchange of offers, counteroffers and messages creates a framework for a meaningful interaction, where results depend on the users ’ decisions and their ability to communicate effectively. Going through different phases of the negotiation, the students develop analytic, cognitive and linguistic skills, albeit some better than others. The paper argues that systems oriented on solving problems in a group setting lend themselves to the communicative approach to language teaching embedded in the theory of second language acquisition. It also discusses issues related to its adoption, and suggests strategies for its diffusion.

We describe a web-site containing material and tools for learning mathematical models of negotiation analysis and discuss students' experiences of its use. The site is part of our general e-learning decision making site, www.dm.hut.fi.

We describe a web-site containing material and tools for learning mathematical models of negotiation analysis and discuss students' experiences of its use. The site is part of our general e-learning decision making site, www.dm.hut.fi.

Traditionally, electronic negotiations have focused on automation of processes. Recently, it was argued that a communication perspective on electronic negotiations needs to be supported in order to achieve the aim of enabling even complex negotiations electronically. We will argue that there is a need to combine these two classes of approach with another class, namely that of decision support and that a holistic integration is required to achieve the goal of electronic negotiation support. Our arguments will be based on Habermas ' view of different worlds and will be illustrated using the Negoisst system. 1

With the exponential development of e-commerce in recent years, there is an emerging demand for effective negotiation support tools. This paper addresses the possible influence of culture and explanation facility on negotiation performance involving negotiation agents in an e-commerce context. Explanation facility, an important element of knowledge-based systems, has been well recognized for its benefits. When incorporated into negotiation agents, it is expected to improve the performance of negotiators. Also of interest here is culture. Certain moderating effects due to cultural differences are anticipated, in that the relationships between explanation facility and negotiation outcomes are conjectured to be contingent upon cultural conditions. This paper puts forth several hypotheses for experimental investigation. Preliminary results of a study are presented.

In this paper we apply an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) to explore whether national culture influences users ' perception and use of Internet-based negotiation support systems (NSS). In particular, we are interested if different preferences for communication patterns as we find them in low context and high context cultures influence the attitudes towards different features of NSS. Our empirical analysis is based on data from over 2000 participants from more than 50 countries, who used Web-based system Inspire in experimental negotiations. Our results show that significant impacts of culture do exist. Users from high context cultures exchange significantly more messages and offers during negotiations than users from low context cultures. One possible explanation for this result is the necessity to establish a social context in computer-mediated negotiations. Users from low context cultures evaluate analytical negotiation support tools significantly better than users from high context cultures. This indicates that an analytical approach to problem solving is more compatible with their preference for direct and task oriented communication.

Abstract. Feedback from several thousands of users of our Web-based negotiation support system has demonstrated that such systems can be used in e-business negotiations. Users ’ feedback also indicated that active support in the use of the system and negotiation methodology can facilitate the effective system use. This led us to develop a Web-based integrated negotiation environment capable of supporting negotiators, providing context-dependent advice, and undertaking certain activities autonomously. This environment comprises software agents, and negotiation and decision support systems. An agent monitors the process, facilitates the use of the Web-based negotiation support system, interprets the negotiators ’ activities and provides methodological advice. The architecture of this environment is based on the separation of user support functions from the autonomous software activities, separation of the support for individuals from facilitation and mediation, scalability and the ability to provide linkages with the existing software.