Enabling and constraining factors of remote informal communication: a socio-technical systems perspective

Begemann V, Handke L, Lehmann-Willenbrock N (2024)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 29

Article Number: zmae008

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1093/jcmc/zmae008

Abstract

Informal interactions are vital in daily workplace communication, shaping performance, well-being, collaboration, and overall organizational functioning. However, as the ongoing trends of remote and hybrid work present significant changes and challenges to these interactions, supporting remote informal communication (RIC) becomes urgent. To address this pressing issue, we adopt a socio-technical systems perspective to gain in-depth insights into the enabling and constraining factors related to RIC. Our findings of semi-structured interviews with working adults (N=33) reveal important changes and challenges related to informal communication in the remote work context. We identify eleven interrelated socio-contextual, intrapersonal, and technological factors, culminating in a comprehensive conceptual framework of RIC. Based on our findings, we provide practical recommendations to effectively facilitate RIC in organizations and discuss future research avenues for understanding effective RIC in organizations.

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How to cite

APA:

Begemann, V., Handke, L., & Lehmann-Willenbrock, N. (2024). Enabling and constraining factors of remote informal communication: a socio-technical systems perspective. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 29(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmae008

MLA:

Begemann, Vanessa, Lisa Handke, and Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock. "Enabling and constraining factors of remote informal communication: a socio-technical systems perspective." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 29.5 (2024).

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