TECHNOLOGY MEDIATED

COMMUNICATION
Prepared for Al Muss, Professor of Business Administration
Prepared by Paul Macal, Student

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report discusses the pros and cons for the new upcoming generation being
affiliated with the new technology trends, and how it will impact the way employees
interact with each other through technology mediated communication. When
sending a message through technology the manager must take special
considerations and precautions in related to how they are going to send the
message. This report also discusses the declination of old technology trends. Some
main points to take into factor are

Perceived personal closeness

Feedback
Message categorization
Rarity of voice mails
Texting
Digital distractions

The new upcoming trends that will effect management communication are
becoming an essential to everyday business and personal lives. Failure to keep up
with these trends will result in increased competitors, loss of profit in the
organization, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, and ultimately time. Some new trends
such as

Big Data
Cloud Computing

RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.

Less screen time, and more face time.

Address and announce these issues so everyone is aware
Provide solutions to these issues
Face-to-face is the best way of interaction, theres no other way. All five
sensory channels are being utilized
5. Let dis-connect from the virtual world, and make time to listen to people

INTRODUCTION & TOPIC ANALYSIS

While re-reading chapter three of the Hynes textbook several keys elements were
discovered. The main questions to remember throughout this report is; how do
factors such as deciding which form of technology mediated communication will be
more effective and efficient, including effects of technology on perceived personal
closeness, advantages and dis-advantages of feedback through technology
mediated communication. Along with matching the appropriate technology
mediated communication when categorizing a message. Last but not least, the
impact of the use of technology in the future, throughout the business world.

Perceived Personal Closeness

Perceived personal closeness discusses how technology can influence feelings of
closeness and proximity, as well as how it affects communication amongst
individuals. The choice of technology mediated communication should be carefully
taken into consideration. Whether its using technology during a face-to-face
interaction, video conference, email, text, IM, or even leaving a voice mail. Which is
becoming less utilized in todays generation, due to excessive time consumption.
The polychronic society we live in would rather text than talk, because it requires a
demand for quick response and feedback. Access to various types of technology will
determine which form of mediated communication would best fit the message,
along with decreasing psychological distance of personal closeness. Today there is
no proof that the use of technology and personal closeness have a reverse
relationship. The effects of technology mediated communication on feelings of
personal closeness has not been fully examined. However, one factor that will
influence personal closeness and technology, will be based on the relationship of
the communicators.

Feedback
Another key element discussed is the need for feedback. Feedback brings together
the sender and receiver to ensure effective communication. Feedback could be
verbal such as asking questions to better understand the message, and non-verbal
such as facial expressions. With technology mediated communication, feedback is
limited because some sensory channels are absent, especially when one isnt
complacent with the chosen medium. However, time and feedback work
interdependently, negatively and positively. Feedback requires a more prompt
response when communicating through technology. Although, one who receives
emails on a daily basis might feel mentally bombarded with spams and e-mail
alerts. Thus resulting in reduced cognitive functions such as decision making and
fragmented or partial attention, and most importantly the time required for
feedback is greatly increased due to blocked creativity. In the contrary, technology
mediated feedback can reduce the time required to align a communication such as
travel time. Remember, time is money. Lastly, utilization of technology can lessen
the feedback cycle. A receiver might not check their phone, e-mail, or voicemail
for several hours due to interruptions and distractions.

Message Categories
A message can be broken up into four different categories. They are sensitivity,
negativity, complexity, and persuasiveness. Sensitive messages should be
communicated face to face, because they evoke an emotional response from the
receiver. If face-to-face communication is not available, then the widest bandwidth
should be used. On the other hand, a person receiving a negative message via
technology might make the receiver think the sender is hiding something, or not
trying to own responsibility. Normally, technology mediated communication will
depersonalize a message. A high level of consideration should exist. When reducing
the complexity of a message, a wider bandwidth should be obtained. This is
accomplished by the choice of technology. A good choice of technology will increase
personal closeness by providing ample amount of feedback, and hopefully the
chosen medium will indicate the seriousness of the complex message. Face-to-face
communication isnt just enough when attempting to send a complex message.
Sometimes, audio and visual communication along with the message will also aid in
the complexity, thus increasing the effectiveness of feedback. One more category is
message persuasiveness. Persuasive messages are intended to affect an
employees performance, and also agree to a behavior that will benefit the goals of
an organization. Everything from increasing teamwork to changing the culture of
the organization. Ultimately, there are three main points about persuasion. One, it is
easier to persuade those who like you. Two, it is easier to persuade others when you
are perceived as an authority. And three, it is easier to persuade those who
psychologically and physically closer to you.
I believe, these three key elements are essential when deciding how youre going to
send a message through technology mediated communication. Failure to take these
factors into consideration, will result in ineffective and inefficient communication at
the same time diminishing the climate.
Supporting Research

SUPPORTING RESEARCH
Declining Voice Mails
Stated earlier, technology mediated communication impacts perceived personal
closeness. Such as the rarity of voice mails discussed earlier. The New York Times
discusses how voice mail is slowly diminishing in todays generation. According to a
New York Times journalist, time is, again, the main deterrent (Wayne, 2014). The
amount of steps required to set up a voice mail, leave a voice mail, and check a
voice mail is just too much time consuming. In addition, a major factor that
contributes to the decline of voice mails is perceived personal closeness. A buildup
of anxiety and awkwardness is evoked when leaving a voice mail. Eventually feeling
psychologically distant from each other. The main point is that we would rather text
because we are comfortable with the technology, and the millennial generation is
becoming a texting friendly culture. Even more, it is becoming more commonly used
due to its
Efficiency.

Not So Friendly Text Culture

Although, one can pick up verbal cues in a voicemail that emphasize points of the
message. Verbal cues such as pitch and voice quality can affect the way the
receiver perceives the message. These cues are non-existent when texting. Greatly
reducing the meaning of the message and can even be misinterpreted. According to
Fortune, text messaging for business purposes continues to growmore of Gen-Y
entering the work placenearly 225,000 text messages sent every second
(Zwilling, 2012). Even though we are becoming a text friendly culture, a big factor
that comes into play is the absence body language.

Reversing the Inverse

As discussed previously, there is no proof that the use of technology and personal
closeness have a reverse relationship. To support this fact, further research was
conducted. Society is beginning to believe that there is a negative correlation
between the use of technology and emotional intelligence. Creating a reduction in
communication along the five sensory channels. Psychology Today discusses how
the effects of the use of technology can decline ones emotional intelligence in our
growing generation. As stated, average adolescent is disconnected from
technology for only one hour a day (Elmore, 2014). This means we spend twentythree hours a day interacting with a screen, and only one hour having a face-to-face
interaction. This decline in physical human interaction reduces empathy levels. How
does this reduce empathy levels? Millennials would rather much text or send a video
chat, creating a virtual connection. When this connection is brought upon, it
weakens communication skills. When someone texts saying I love you you dont
know if they mean it sincerely or in a friendly manner because the non-verbal cues
are absent. Eye-contact, facial expression and gestures arent present. Therefore a
virtual connection is evoked and communicators become emotionally uninvolved,
eventually leading to a low level of empathy. Inverse relationships such as these,
need to be addressed in the business world so technology can be constructive
rather than destructive.

Digital Distractions
One way technology can be destructive in the business world is work interruptions
through digital distractions. About ten percent of Internet users have some form of
dependency on the technology (Robbins, 2013). This means work productivity in the
business world has relied deeply on technology to communicate, but along the line
technology has impacted work productivity negatively. Truth 39 from the Robbins
book states fifty three percent of employees waste at least one hour a day due to
all types of distractionsa good portion is directly due to technology (Robbins,
2013, p. 152). This relates to my earlier topic, about being disconnected from
technology for only one hour a day. The same situation pertains to employees in the
business world. Employees are to occupied doing non-related work such as surfing
the web, texting, and playing games on their phones. This conflict is becoming a
serious problem. On the other hand, experts believe digital distraction is beneficial
because it provides a mental relief. Still the cons outweigh the pros. Remember time
is money. When an employee is distracted with some form of technology, they are
costing the organization money.

WHAT DOES THE FURTURE HOLD

The future holds many upcoming technology trends that will impact the way
employees communicate and share information in the business world. Here we will
discuss several new upcoming technology trends that will change the business
world in a more positive, effective, and efficient way.

Big Data
One new upcoming trend according to Mashable, is the use of Big Data. Big Data is
information that comes in from all services. Such as posts from social networks,
phone apps, and sensors. With an abundant amount of information, Big Data will be
used to influence decision making, rather than making decisions based off surveys
and customer interests. This new trend will make newer products and improved
services, and it will impact how organizations share information. According to
Mashable, Were not just generating data; were capturing it at an unprecedented
rate (Lance, 2014). Which brings me back to one my key elements; feedback. This
rapid growth of Big Data and retrieving it a high speeds, enables an employee to
provide quick and precise feedback. Reducing expenses on resources and traveling.

Cloud Computing
One more upcoming trend is the rapid growth of cloud computing. Cloud computing
is voice and data communications being sent via Internet. After the information is
sent, it is stored by a third party cloud provider. The information then can be
accessed anywhere at any time through the internet. This trend saves time and
money for an organization. Employees will have access to this information without
having their own personal computer readily available. According to Gigaom,
reasons why cloud computing is significantly more energy efficientMore diverse
users, and more users in different places means computing loads are spread over
the day (Koomey, 2011). This means more and more people are relying on cloud
communication every day. How does this effect managerial communication? Its
simple, cloud computing reduces message complexity, and it provides products and
services rapidly to consumers and employees.
5

TRUTH DISCUSSIONS
Virtual leadership: Leading from Afar
This truth discusses the disadvantages of working through linked network, at the
same time discusses how to defeat these disadvantages. When building good
relations through virtual leadership, the most challenging is developing a virtual
interpersonal skill that will increase the climate. When you substitute physical
contact for a virtual environment, the key component is communicating
supportively through written words. This is an important aspect in managerial
communications because developing a virtual propinquity is essential to increase
trust, openness, and feedback.

Want Friendly Employees? Its In the Genes!

The focal point of this truth is pin-pointing employees who inherit positive
dispositions. 35 to 50 percent, and maybe as 80 percent of peoples differences in
happiness is attributable to their genes (Robbins, 2013, p. 18). By carefully
examining the applicant during a hiring process, you can select out those who are
incompetent in developing positive dispositions. How does this relate to managerial
communications? When this aspect isnt carefully administered it can greatly impact
the organization. Mainly by horrible customer service, resulting in negative reviews
and a decline in consumers, ultimately costing the organization money.

Not Everyone Wants a Challenging Job

The topic of this truth explains whether or not an employees personal growth is
based off their job or on the job. Many works meet their high-order needs off the
job (Robbins, 2013, p. 192). While others whose choose jobs require competition,
find their personal growth when they are recognized and challenged. While those
who dont necessarily find personal growth through work, dont want a challenging
job. They find personal growth outside of work, such as their hobbies. Work is
merely something they have to do to pay their bills (Robbins, 2013, p. 193).
Personal growth in managerial communications is important because it promotes
workers to better understand each other in a more profound manner. It also
promotes happiness and allows employees to embrace creativity.

SUMMARY
The findings on this report are becoming both beneficiary and threating to
management communications. Organizations need to invest in employees work
productivity by holding constructive workshops that utilize technology and
communication. By doing so, employees will be more comfortable with the virtual
connection at work as well as increasing communication feedback, climate, and
propinquity. Here we discussed the declining use of voice mails, text-friendly
culture, digital distractions, and technology mediated feedback. The upcoming
technology trends continue to be improved every day and more and more new
trends are to come in the near future.