Does the medium matter? The interaction of task type and technology on group performance and member reactions.

摘要: The authors investigated the hypothesis that as group tasks pose greater requirements for member interdependence, communication media transmit more social context cues will foster performance and satisfaction. Seventy-two 3-person groups of undergraduate students worked in either computer-mediated or face-to-face meetings on 3 with increasing levels interdependence: an idea-generation task, intellective a judgment task. Results showed few differences between quality work completed but large productivity favoring groups. Analysis members' reactions supported predicted interaction media, discrepancies conditions requiring higher coordination. are discussed terms implications using systems work. In this study we tested following general hypothesis: As group-member interdependence increases, have impact For high needs coordination, interacting face-toface perform better be satisfied than computer-medi ated discussions. low little effect outcomes. We expected these different would less effective types because both affect group-interaction process affects outcomes (Hackman & Morris, 1975; McGrath, 1984). present study, focused kinds computermediated (CMCSs) which primary function is to information transfer through typed text (e.g., computer conferences and, some extent, electronic mail). Many results research decision support excluded from discussion. Because