Effects of Technology on Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
How Does Technology Affect Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace?
Interpersonal communication plays a core role in ensuring efficiency in an organization. There are various instances of communication in an organization, which include interaction with the stakeholders, clients and co-worker. Therefore, quick decisions in the workplace are enhanced by the choice of communication channel that the organization chooses. The recent improvement in technology has enhanced the change of how organization employers communicate with the employee as well as impacting the way work is done. Technology has eased connectivity and enabled flexibility making the global workplace mobile. (Lane, 2016) For instance, eliminating constraints such as time, place and manner through the introduction of liquid computing. The more effective an organization is in a communication system which is an essential part of the workplace the better performance are produced.
Technology has become an integral part of workplace making it easily accessible and availability of means to communicate to anyone despite the distance. These have minimized the use of paperwork and have made the organization storage of important data more easily by the use of technology such as email, software such Xero for financial record keeping thus making the information more and easily retrieved in the future. (Lane, 2016) Technology has encouraged the use of conference calls over the internet and instant messaging which has led to productivity but rather limiting the instant of direct contact which is important in determining an individual feeling about any agenda that is addressed. Additionally, it has enhanced the removal of boundaries which leads to easy expansion of organizations.
On the contrary, technology has limited face to face communication which allows information to be transmitted directly and provide an opportunity for direct feedback. These are considered as channel richness whereby information is transmitted directly orally and immediate feedback is received without other media which can lead to an error of the initial message (Rogers, 2018). For instance, the use of email to limit one from communicating the full information and no immediate feedback is received due to inconveniences in the network. Considering the number of people that will be reached out by the use of email and face-to-face communication technology wins it all since it targets a large number of people and can be considered as cost-effective since the information can reach the targeted person at any place. Additionally, it has limited the relationship among the customers and the suppliers since no opportunity is provided for personal interaction.
In conclusion, technology has more benefit in the workplace than the disadvantages. For instance, it provides an opportunity for mobile working allowing people work from home which is beneficial especially during a pandemic like the Corona Virus whereby the manager can interact with the employees through the use of email or any that is convenient .transformed the workforce into a mobile workforce. Teamwork can also be incorporate and hold a meeting by the use of video conferencing despite the destination thus considered as cost-effective since no transport cost is incurred. Technology has made it easy for employees to produce effectively and have more involvement for instance work and study at the same time sue to easy flexibility and the location. Therefore, interpersonal communication has been made more effective and easier by the use of technology in the workplace and made it easy for employees to interact socially through the use of social media.
References
Lane, S. D. (2016). Interpersonal Communication: Competence and Contexts. Routledge.
Rogers, T. L. (2018). Examining the Effects of Technology on Face to Face Communication.