Evidence of Compensatory Adaptation to Unnatural Media in a Field Study of Process Redesign Dyads

2011 ◽  
pp. 123-156
Author(s):  
Ned Kock
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Communication ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Outcome Quality ◽  
Adaptation Theory ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Process Redesign ◽  
Compensatory Adaptation ◽  
The Face

Much of the past research on electronic communication media suggests that those media pose obstacles to communication in collaborative tasks when compared with the face-to-face medium. On the other hand, past research also points at mixed findings in connection with the quality of the outcomes of collaborative tasks, generally suggesting that the use of electronic communication media has no negative effect on those outcomes. A new theoretical framework building on human evolution theory, called compensatory adaptation theory, has been proposed to explain these contradictory findings. This study provides a review and test of compensatory adaptation theory. It investigates the impact of the use of an electronic communication medium on 20 business process redesign dyads involving managers and professionals at a large defense contractor, with a focus on cognitive effort, communication ambiguity, message preparation, fluency, and task outcome quality. The study suggests that even though the use of electronic communication media seemed to increase cognitive effort and communication ambiguity, it had a neutral impact on task outcome quality. These results appear to be an outcome of compensatory adaptation, whereby the members of the dyads interacting through the electronic communication medium modified their behavior in order to compensate for the obstacles posed by the medium, which is suggested by a decrease in fluency and an increase in message preparation. The results generally support predictions based on compensatory adaptation theory.

Adaptations that Virtual Teams Make so that Complex Tasks Can Be Performed Using Simple E-Collaboration Technologies

2009 ◽  
pp. 1124-1146
Author(s):  
Dorrie DeLuca ◽  
Susan Gasson ◽  
Ned Kock
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Bulletin Board ◽  
Adaptation Theory ◽  
Team Outcomes ◽  
Compensatory Adaptation ◽  
Organizational Problem ◽  
The Face ◽  
Problem Solving Teams ◽  
Collaboration Technologies

Using the theoretical lens of compensatory adaptation theory, this study examines how organizational problem-solving teams adapt to lean media and effectively communicate. We examined several successful virtual teams using a bulletin board as their primary communication medium to perform complex process improvement tasks in their natural business environment. Although some established theories predict failure using lean media, savings from use of simple e-collaboration technologies provide motivation for conduct of virtual teams. Compensatory adaptation theory argues that e-collaboration technologies often pose obstacles to communication, and yet also lead to better team outcomes than the face-to-face medium. This study provides support for that theory. Members of the virtual teams reported adapting their communication to be more focused, clear, precise, neutral, concrete, concise, persuasive, considerate, and complete in order to overcome the obstacles posed by media of low richness. As a result of those adaptations, the teams perceived better quality and achieved success of the team outcome.

Adaptations that Virtual Teams Make so that Complex Tasks Can Be Performed Using Simple E-Collaboration Technologies

2008 ◽  
pp. 1336-1358
Author(s):  
Dorrie DeLuca ◽  
Susan Gasson ◽  
Ned Kock
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Bulletin Board ◽  
Adaptation Theory ◽  
Team Outcomes ◽  
Compensatory Adaptation ◽  
Organizational Problem ◽  
The Face ◽  
Problem Solving Teams ◽  
Collaboration Technologies

Using the theoretical lens of compensatory adaptation theory, this study examines how organizational problem-solving teams adapt to lean media and effectively communicate. We examined several successful virtual teams using a bulletin board as their primary communication medium to perform complex process improvement tasks in their natural business environment. Although some established theories predict failure using lean media, savings from use of simple e-collaboration technologies provide motivation for conduct of virtual teams. Compensatory adaptation theory argues that e-collaboration technologies often pose obstacles to communication, and yet also lead to better team outcomes than the face-to-face medium. This study provides support for that theory. Members of the virtual teams reported adapting their communication to be more focused, clear, precise, neutral, concrete, concise, persuasive, considerate, and complete in order to overcome the obstacles posed by media of low richness. As a result of those adaptations, the teams perceived better quality and achieved success of the team outcome.

scholarly journals “Third-Wave” Coffeehouses as Venues for Sociality: On Encounters between Employees and Customers

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Manzo
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Public Meeting ◽  
Work World ◽  
The Face ◽  
Commercial Landscape

Contemporary social life is often depicted, in and out of the social sciences, as an ever-worsening subterfuge of alienation, ennui, and the systematic destruction of traditional, human-scaled, publicly-accessible, “organic” sociality that people once enjoyed. In this paper I do not contend that these trends in our social and commercial landscape are not happening. I will instead contend that conventional face-to-face sociability thrives even in the face of the loss of many traditional public meeting places. My focus in this piece is on social interaction in independent cafes that are known, and that self-identify, as what coffee connoisseurs term “third-wave” coffeehouses. Deploying the analytic perspective of ethnomethodology, which prioritizes and problematizes the observed and reported lived experiences of research subjects, I argue not only that “authentic” sociality flourishes in these spaces but I also consider the role of shop employees—baristas—in them and uncover their perceptions concerning social interaction between themselves and customers. As such I not only question prevailing understandings about the “death” of traditional sociability but also add to past research on the coffeehouse as social form by problematizing, for the first time, the work world of the baristas and their interactions with customers.

Communication Security Technologies in Smart Organizations

2011 ◽  
pp. 333-353
Author(s):  
Raphael C.W. Phan
Keyword(s):  
Information Age ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Communication Security ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Security Technologies ◽  
Current Information ◽  
Business Establishment

In this chapter, we discuss the security technologies that are important in guaranteeing the good quality of communication within smart organizations. We first briefly review the various forms of communication that can be used in the current information age, before outlining the possible threats that can be faced in each communication medium. We then describe the relevant security technologies that help to protect communication media from common threats, as well as the security tools available in the market that implement these technologies. The topics discussed in this chapter would serve to educate the smart organizations towards securing their various means of communication, which is vital for a business establishment to exist and coexist with peers and partners.

The Self-Regulatory Focus as a Determinant of Perceived Richness of a Communication Medium

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicenc Fernandez ◽  
Xavier Armengol ◽  
Pep Simo
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
The Self ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Regulatory Focus Theory ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Expansion Theory ◽  
Channel Expansion ◽  
Focus Theory

At present, a large number of theories exist which explain the process for choosing communication media in organizations. Channel expansion theory combines a large part of the theoretical foundation for these theories, suggesting that the perceived richness of a communication medium varies according to experience based on the knowledge of the organization’s members. Equally, Regulatory Focus Theory also suggests that individuals behave in a different way when their self regulation states are different. This investigation intends to present a set of proposals based on the existing literature about how strategy type /focus (promotion and prevention) affects the perception of the richness of a communication medium, increasing the explanatory capacity of channel expansion theory.

scholarly journals Introduction of an online discussion forum and electronic communication practice in a tertiary-level Anaesthesia Department

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Brenton Sanderson ◽  
Jeremy Field
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Electronic Communication ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Discussion Forum ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Online Discussion Forum ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Anaesthesia Department

Objective: Electronic communication mediums provide an opportunity for clinicians to enhance communication, collaboration, and sharing of clinical experience, especially via mobile devices. In 2016, the authors implemented a private online discussion forum in a tertiary-level anaesthesia department to improve communication and collaboration amongst members. The objective of this survey was to assess if these aims were met, to determine the degree of communication medium duplication incurred by its introduction, and to assess departmental communication practices more generally.Methods: A qualitative anonymous online survey was conducted 18 months following the introduction of the online discussion forum, over a two-month period. All 120 medical staff were invited via forum message and hard-copy invitation and responses were stratified by training status.Results: Forty-seven responses were collected (39% response rate), comprising 31 anaesthesia specialists and 16 anaesthesia trainees. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported that discussion had improved following the introduction of the online discussion forum, with no significant difference between specialists and trainees. Despite this, 57% overall maintained a preference for email discussion.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the introduction of an online discussion forum resulted in a perceived improvement in overall departmental communication. However, it is important that workplaces considering implementation of a similar communication medium determine their employees’ cultural perspectives on technology, established communication preferences and aims of implementation to ensure success.

scholarly journals MENGGAGAS MADING SEBAGAI MEDIA KOMUNIKASI PARTISIPATIF DI SDN TANJUNG ANOM 3 NGANJUK

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Inri Inggrit Indrayani ◽  
Gatut Priyowidodo ◽  
Marsefio S. Luhukay
Keyword(s):  
Community Service ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Bulletin Board ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Participatory Communication ◽  
Service Activities

As the simplest communication media, mading is a significant medium to encourage creativity, imagination and provide opportunity for students to be expresive. In fact, there aren’t many schools utilizing mading as a communication medium to empower students. Mading management that empowers students will also provide benefits to improve the literacy skills and build a culture of teamwork. This paper aims to examine the utilization of mading as a learning medium for students at SDN Tanjung Anom 3 Nganjuk. Mading is merely informative medium or one-way communication from the teacher to the students. Mading utilization is emphasized as a bulletin board only. Community service activities were implemented then, aimed to put mading as a medium of participatory communication in order to foster synergies between school as educational institution and the needs of the students. The results of the training has been done in SDN Tanjung Anom 3 shows that the management of mading within involvement of students will make them become more creative, expressive and imaginative. Students further become collaborative and explorative in mading management thus the function of mading as a medium of two way communication might be implemented.

scholarly journals Android Robots as Telepresence Media

Robotics ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. 1319-1327
Author(s):  
Kohei Ogawa ◽  
Shuichi Nishio ◽  
Takashi Minato ◽  
Hiroshi Ishiguro
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Communication Media ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Communication Medium ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Natural Conversation ◽  
Conference System ◽  
As If

In this chapter, the authors describe two human-like android robots, known as Geminoid and Telenoid, which they have developed. Geminoid was developed for two reasons: (1) to explore how humans react or respond the android during face-to-face communication and (2) to investigate the advantages of the android as a communication medium compared to traditional communication media, such as the telephone or the television conference system. The authors conducted two experiments: the first was targeted to an interlocutor of Geminoid, and the second was targeted to an operator of it. The results of these experiments showed that Geminoid could emulate a human’s presence in a natural-conversation situation. Additionally, Geminoid could be as persuasive to the interlocutor as a human. The operators of Geminoid were also influenced by the android: during operation, they felt as if their bodies were one and the same with the Geminoid body. The latest challenge has been to develop Telenoid, an android with a more abstract appearance than Geminoid, which looks and behaves as a minimalistic human. At first glance, Telenoid resembles a human; however, its appearance can be interpreted as any sex or any age. Two field experiments were conducted with Telenoid. The results of these experiments showed that Telenoid could be an acceptable communication medium for both young and elderly people. In particular, physical interaction, such as a hug, positively affected the experience of communicating with Telenoid.

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