Interactivity and Communication Mode Choice in Ongoing Management Groups.

Author List: Zack, Michael H.;

Information Systems Research, 1993, Volume 4, Issue 3, Page 207-239.

Management is communication intensive and, therefore, managers may derive benefits from computer-based alternatives to the traditional communication modes of face-to-face (FTF), telephone, and written memo. This research examined the use of electronic messaging (EM) by ongoing management groups performing a cooperative task. By means of an in-depth multimethod case study of the editorial group of two daily newspapers, it examined the fit between the interactivity of the chosen communication mode (FTF vs. EM) and the mode of discourse it was used for (alternation vs. interaction/discussion). Two propositions were derived from this exploratory study. The first proposes that FTF, being highly interactive, is appropriate for building a shared interpretive context among group members, while CMC, being less interactive, is more appropriate for communicating within an established context. Groups exhibiting effective communication will use FTF primarily for interactive discourse and EM for discourse consisting primarily of alternating adjacency pairs. The second proposes that to the extent that the appropriate communication modes are chosen, communication will be more effective.

Keywords: computer-mediated communication;media choice;work group effectiveness;social communication

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List of Topics

#203	0.334	communication media computer-mediated e-mail richness electronic cmc mail medium message performance convergence used communications messages face-to-face findings participants results work
#257	0.203	group support groups meeting gdss decision systems meetings technology study electronic ems task process communication computer-supported outcomes quality consensus face-to-face
#82	0.183	case study studies paper use research analysis interpretive identify qualitative approach understanding critical development managerial elements exploring points positivist presents
#88	0.147	managers managerial manager decisions study middle use important manager's appropriate importance context organizations indicate field experience management major organizational results
#293	0.076	values culture relationship paper proposes mixed responsiveness revealed specific considers deployment results fragmentation simultaneously challenges explain attribute building indicated obtain