Analysing Communication in the Distributed Workplace

M Crisp, S Foley, S Kammas, M Lievonen (RHUL)

H Mettler, T Rose (FAW), J Strickner (IAT), T Fernando (OAP)

Overview

Distributed workplace

Flexibility enabled by ICT

Communication in the distributed workplace:

Understanding communicative needs

Meeting communicative needs

Theory of communication to explain how people

Collaborate to solve joint problems

Create relationships based on trust and personal contact

SANE Unified Framework (work in progress)

Integrating Place – People - Process

 

Distributed workplace

Architects design physical work settings

IT design technology-enabled settings

Scientists investigate interactions in ‘hybrid’ settings of distributed workplace:

Access to

Private, privileged and public spaces

Trust and friendship in distributed teams

New ways of working for distributed organisations

Organisational identity

Effective business processes and disappearing computer

Information and Communication Technologies

Impact of ICT on:

Organisational strategy

Less travel and reduced cost vs. better connectivity

Teamwork

Remote A/E/C meetings vs. better coordination

Task performance

Distributing CAD files vs. capturing individual views

Conversations between remote partners

Webcams on hardhats

How do people create the common ground in communication?

Communication and the Common Ground

Inter-disciplinary Theory of Communication

Aims to explain:

How communication serves the purpose of making task performance more effective;

How conversations are organised for creating trust and effective teamwork;

Benefits:

How to design ICT to optimise flexibility

Applications

Workplace design –

E.g. management consultancy tools

Education –

E.g. distance learning programmes

ICT design –

E.g. user interface as ‘communicative space’ bringing people together