Exploring the influence of instant messaging and video conferencing on the quality of project communication

Abstract

Growth in computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies such as instant messaging (IM) and video conferencing (VC) has led to a need to explore the utilisation and influence of these tools on the quality of project communication, which must still be established. This article reports the results of a survey conducted among 210 project practitioners using CMC in various industries to determine how, why and what each medium is used for, and how these media influence factors that promote quality communication. Some results showed that the use of both instant messaging and video conferencing in projects is moderate and both improve the quality of communication in virtual teams, however in different ways.Keywords: Project communication, computer-mediated communication, instant messaging, video conferen cing, virtual teams AbstrakDie groei in rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasietegnologie soos kitsbood skappe en videokonferensies het gelei tot ʼn behoefte om die benutting en invloed van hierdie tegnologie op die gehalte van projekkommunikasie te verstaan aangesien dit nog nie vasgestel is nie. Hierdie artikel rapporteer die resultate van 'n opname wat gedoen was onder 210 projekpraktisyns wat CMC's gebruik in verskeie industrieë om te bepaal hoe, hoekom en waarvoor elke medium gebruik word, en hoe hierdie media die faktore beïnvloed wat kwaliteitkommunikasie bevorder. Sommige resultate toon dat die gebruik van beide hierdie tipe media in projekte matig is en dat kitsboodskappe en videokonferensies albei die gehalte van kommunikasie in virtuele spanne verbeter maar egter op verskillende maniere.Sleutelwoorde: Projekkommunikasie, rekenaar-bemid delde kommunikasie, kits bood skap, videokonferensies, virtuele projekspanne.

Group Decision-Making in Multi-User Immersive Virtual Reality

“…Furthermore, we were motivated to draw a comparison with VC. VC is ubiquitous in meetings of spatially distributed team members 15 , 16 and different characteristics of CMC have shown to affect information sharing in groups. 4 Since HMDs are becoming increasingly affordable and consumer-friendly, it is crucial to assess the suitability of IVR to complement or even enhance current standards of CMC (i.e., VC).…”