Exploring Experiences of Information Overload: The Influence of Computer-Mediated Communication in the Workplace

Without question, it is apparent that organizations are predominantly dependent on the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to conduct their daily operations. As a result, information is rapidly flowing throughout the workplace and being exchanged at a rate unlike ever before. Unfortunately,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Watts, Christina
Other Authors: Luppicini, Rocci
Language:en
Published: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10393/35062
http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-5217
Description
Summary:Without question, it is apparent that organizations are predominantly dependent on the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to conduct their daily operations. As a result, information is rapidly flowing throughout the workplace and being exchanged at a rate unlike ever before. Unfortunately, this rapid flow of information has increased the potential for information overload to occur among employees. Through a phenomenological based approach, this study explored the experiences of information overload that occur as a result of CMC use in the workplace, from the subjective point of view of ten participants. Findings indicated that the experiences described among these participants can be understood through the examination of four descriptive themes: Constant Communication, Unpredictability, Miscommunication, and lastly Increased Workload and Responsibilities. Furthermore, two theories: Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Social Influence Theory (SIT), served as the theoretical framework for this study.