Abstract

A method implemented on a network of computers for allowing a plurality of users to collaborate in decision making to solve a problem, includes the steps of processing, at a central server, a group of proposals for solving the problem, submitting the group of proposals to the plurality of users at remote clients, and thereafter receiving, at the central server from the plurality of users, selections of proposals from the group of proposals. Determining, at the central server, a narrowed group of proposals in response to the selections of proposals, communicating the narrowed group of proposals to the plurality of users at the remote clients, each proposal in the narrowed group of proposals including sets of statements, and thereafter receiving, at the central server from one of the plurality of users, suggestions for modifying proposals in the narrowed group of proposals, are also included. The method also included determining, at the central server, a modified narrowed group of proposals in response to the suggestions, each proposal in the modified narrowed group of proposals including a modified set of statements, submitting the modified narrowed group of proposals to the plurality of users at remote clients, thereafter receiving, at the central server from the plurality of users, selections of statements from the modified sets of statements of the modified narrowed group of proposals, and consolidating the selection of statements into a proposed solution for the problem.

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