Electronic Mail and Organizational Communication: Does Saying “Hi” Really Matter?

Abstract

When people use electronic mail, they can communicate even when they are not physically or temporally proximate. Thus, it is not surprising that most studies report that the use of electronic mail increases organizational communication. In the study presented here, overall organizational communication declined as use of electronic mail increased. As we probed the nature of this decline, we discovered that much of the lost communication was greetings. This raises questions about the role that greetings, and other forms of casual conversation, play in an organization. To organize our insights about this topic we formulate a two-by-two communication matrix based on presence versus absence and availability versus unavailability. Prior research focuses on the ways being present and available and being absent but available through electronic mail affect the performance of specific communication tasks. Using our typology, we direct attention to the role of casual conversation in presence availability and to the parts that presence unavailability and absence unavailability can play in organizational communication.

The Influence of Training Environment on Trainee Expertise

“…Behavioral characteristics, such as computer playfulness, computer anxiety, and perceived ease of use can help to explain the transference of IT skills and tend to be stronger predictors of learning and satisfaction than technology characteristics (Sarbaugh- Thompson and Feldman 1998). Arbaugh (2002) finds that although technological characteristics are important, the primary predictors of successful training experiences are the extent to which participants interact with the technology.…”

Are You Managing Your Email - Or is Email Managing You? An Analysis of Email Among Personnel Within Army Project Management Offices

“…Email does not have to be scheduled, nor does it require the communicators to be available at the same time or in the same place. In addition, email is an expeditious means of communicating to an almost unlimited number of people, which is in contrast to traditional mail (Sarbaugh-Thompson & Feldman, 1998;Berghel, 1997). Girrier (2003) stated that "Email has revolutionized communications by accelerating interpersonal communications and enhancing collaborative planning."…”

“…A study was conducted from 1986 to 1989 by Sarbaugh- Thompson and Feldman (1998) to examine trends in the various methods of communication, such as email and face-to-face communications. Three questionnaires were administered to a test group of the test group increased, the overall communications within the group decreased.…”

“…Furthermore, such a decrease in communications tended to retard social bonding and the development of trusting relationships (Sarbaugh-Thompson & Feldman, 1998). In a way, the increasing use or reliance on email may actually increase the amount of time to complete tasks since individuals within a virtual team may tend to be less trusting of the intentions or capabilities of other teammates.…”

“…An examination of literature indicated that users allow email to drive communication and work habits (Sarbaugh-Thompson & Feldman, 1998;Girrier, 2003 Interviews with leading IT providers support this finding by expressing that they were overwhelmed by email, often spending evenings and weekends reading it, just to keep up. The existence of email and the ease of access means they are never out of reach with customers and co-workers around the globe.…”