The relationship between electronic and face‐to‐face communication and its implication for alternative workplace strategies

Abstract

Many individuals who have no or limited experience of using electronic communication technologies (ECTs), e.g. telephone, fax, voice, and e‐mail are concerned that media like e‐mail are a limited, if not poor, way of communicating, and that they cannot replace face‐to‐face communication. Reports on research examining how relatively sophisticated ECT users use ECTs to communicate, and how electronic communication may affect face‐to‐face communication. Finds that ECTs are most effective in the administrative stages of a project rather than in the initial conceptualizing stages or final project wrap up and is the primary form of communication between co‐workers. Discusses the implications for workplace strategies that involve remote work.