Computer-Mediated Communication Systems

Computer-Mediated Communication Systems: Status and Evaluation synthesizes current knowledge about computerized conferencing systems, electronic mail, and office information-communication systems. It should be of interest both to students and researchers studying this new form of electronic communication and to organizations that are planning the installation of electronic mail or other computer-mediated communication systems and that need to be aware of the information gleaned from the studies presented here.
The book is organized into four main sections, focusing on the following issues: (1) What are the important considerations in designing software or choosing a system from the many available options and capabilities? (2) What factors determine whether such systems are likely to be accepted or rejected? (3) What are the likely impacts of such systems upon the individuals, groups, and organizations which use them? It is not the economic costs and benefits, but the social problems and ""payoffs"" in the form of enhanced performance and organizational efficiency that should be the main considerations in deciding whether or not to use a computer-mediated communication system. (4) Given the conditional nature of many of the possible impacts, no system should be implemented without formal evaluation and feedback from users to guide the implementation. The major kinds of evaluational strategies that have been successfully employed are described in this book.

Contenu

Preface
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction
   Introduction
   Overview of the Medium
   Methodology: How the Data Were Gathered
   Descriptions of the Systems and Groups Studied
   The Context of Computer-Mediated Communication Systems
2. System Design
   Introduction
   System Software Factors
   General Interface Characteristics
   Other Factors: Interactive Systems Design
   Factors Specific to Computer-Mediated Communication Systems
   Summary and Conclusions
   Addendum: Groupware: The Process and Impacts of Design Choices
3. Acceptance and Usage of Computer-Mediated Communication Systems
   The Conceptualization and Measurement of Acceptance
   Findings of Previous Studies
   The Predictive Power of Individual Characteristics
   Group Factors in Determining Acceptance
   Other Determinants
   Summary
4. Impacts of Computer-Mediated Communications upon Individuals and Groups
   Introduction
   Toward a Definition of Impacts
   Procedure
   Cognitive Impacts on Individuals
   Affective Impacts on Individuals
   Behavioral Impacts on Individuals
   Group Impacts
   Cognitive Impacts on Groups
   Affective Impacts on Groups
   Behavioral Impacts on Groups
   Societal Impacts
   Conclusions
5. Appropriate Research Methodology
   Introduction
   Goals of Evaluation
   Stakeholders
   Data Collection and Analysis Methods
   New Methodological Tools
   Conclusions
6. Summary and Conclusions
   Summary
   Reflections on the Delphi Process
   Conclusions
   Appendix: Background Information on the Systems and Studies
   References
   Author Index
   Subject Index