Worldwide
Media Relations
Communication
Technology in the Workplace
Steven
R. Van Hook
Jones
International University
June
12, 1999
Sproull and Kiesler conclude the first chapter of their book Connections: New Ways of Working in the Networked Organization (1991) with a remarkable quote regarding the use of new communications: "It’s not who you know but how you know that makes you a success." New communications technologies are providing diverse avenues for communicating with vast numbers of business connections, especially conducive to researching and transferring precise information at megahertz speeds.
Emerging communications
technologies provide cosmic levels of
information flow, with the resultant
business-boosting possibilities of
efficiency and productivity gains
through cost displacement and/or value
added (i.e., replacing workers or
enhancing worker productivity). But
information flow is not necessarily an
end in itself; in fact excess flow can
cause offsetting deviation-amplified
consequences, much like increased flow
of traffic over the Golden Gate Bridge
might cause congestion of freeways on
the other side (Sproull and Kiesler,
1991).
Effective use of new communications
requires 1) the communication media be
appropriate to the business purpose, and
2) the business users accept the media
for their most effective use.
High-tech solutions are not a cure-all for business communication needs. Organizations process and exchange information to reduce uncertainty (absence of information) and equivocality (ambiguous and conflicting interpretations) (Daft and Engel, 1986). Media Richness Theory proposes media-rich communications (e.g., face-to-face) are better suited for solving equivocality problems, while questions of uncertainty able to be resolved with data may best be served with less rich, impersonal media (e.g., e-mail).
Beyond
the first-level technological
efficiencies, businesses can be served
by the second-level social benefits in a
networked organization where employee
skills and interests can be maximized to
their greatest benefits (Sproull and
Kiesler, 1991). People can participate
in diverse forums and group structures
with dynamic configurations, across
geographic, hierarchical and time
dependent boundaries. An organizational
network can become a powerful tool in
leveraging employee expertise and
abilities.
Introducing communication technologies can present problems, beyond the costs for installation and training involved. Management and worker reactions alike may initially run opposed to proposed technological changes. Deviations from the norm or the "tried and true way of doing things" require justifications that are sensible and acceptable within the business social setting. This may lead to commitment to courses of action beyond the point when those actions are sensible from other points of view (Becker, 1960). Conflicting worker response to technologies might range from justifications such as "don’t fix what ain’t broken" to "you don’t get anywhere by standing still," both appearing to be sensible behaviors. Such social influence provides a pivotal role in media evaluations, task evaluations and media use (Fulk, Schmitz and Steinfield, 1990).
Management itself might be an inhibitor to technological business developments. Managers often like to keep information to themselves, enhancing their "value" to the organization. New communications systems can unleash and democratize the flow of information. Furthermore, managers who may have previously discouraged technological enhancements may need "a socially accepted rationale that defines both past resistance and current acceptance as appropriate" (Fulk, Schmitz and Steinfield, 1990).
It’s a situation I witnessed somewhat in my own organization two years back, when the project director proposed developing an intra-office computer network for internal communications. The office was already connected to the Internet for regional and international communications. I’ve attached excerpts from an e-mail exchange between the in-country project director, with the US-based company president.
Subj:
Technology Wish List
From:
(Project Director)
To:
(Company President)
The
following items were identified by
members of the Information Technology
Committee, which met yesterday to define
from the "user-end" a computer
communication system meeting the
following needs:
1.
The ability to input a "daily
agenda" throughout the day, and to
input for future days.
2.
The ability to schedule a meeting with
another staff member.
3.
The ability to access and input into the
schedules of other staff members.
4.
The ability to send files to one
another.
Please
respond with your thoughts.
======
Subj:
Re: Technology Wish List
From:
(Company President)
To:
(Project Director)
Sorry
to piss on parades, but I am starting to
get a really bad feeling about this
whole process. I am open to persuading.
However, I am quite concerned we may be
heading to alienation of people, etc.,
as we replace face-to-face and phone
conversations with the computer. Please
think this through and let me know your
thoughts.
=======
Subj:
Re: Technology Wish List
From:
(Project Director)
To:
(Company President)
I
think this is blown way out of
proportion.
What
we are instituting in the office is a
simple communication system. Our office
is now larger and there are more people
in more departments. We try to keep
meetings to an absolute minimum and to
take care of basic details like
calendars, shared information, etc. That
way when people do get together they can
work on important issues and not have to
waste time on the basics which should be
understood.
It
also will cut down on the huge amounts
of paper that are now being used and the
overtaxed copy machines.
But,
let me assure you that it is not a big
deal, only one step in the daily list of
things to get the office functioning a
little better. The end goal is not an
Orwellian monster.
A few months later our intra-office system was completed.