This paper proposes a theoretical approach to mediated communication in organizations. It is argued that the man-machine interface in mediated human communication is better dealt with when a comprehensive theoretical approach is used, than when separate communication devices are tested as they appear in the market, such as video-teleconferencing. Propinquity is considered to be the system's trait which is essential for the continuation of the human communication system in organizations. In a structural-functional analysis, six propositions, 15 derived corollaries, and two-limits propositions are presented. The variables included in the propositions are: (a) perceived propinquity; (b) perceived bandwidth; (c) perceived complexity of the information; (d) perceived degree of mutual directionality of the channel; (e) communication skills; (f) perceived communication rules; (g) perceived number of choices among channels; (h) perceived conflict; and (i) perceived turbulence in the environment. Evidence from past research is used to support the perspective presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abrahamson, M. (1976) Interpersonal Accommodation. New York: D. Van Nostrand.
2.
Bailey, G.F. Sistrunk, and P. Nordie (1963) A Look at the Criterion Variable. McLean, VA: Human Sciences Research.
3.
Berlyne, D.E. (1969) "Laughter, humor, and play," in G. Lindzey and E. Aronson (eds.) The Handbook of Social Psychology, Vol. 3. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley .
4.
Billomes, C.A. (1972) Reports of Visits. Ottawa, Canada: Communications Research Centre.
5.
Blalock, H. M., Jr. [ed.] (1971) Causal Models in the Social Sciences. Chicago. ILL: Aldine.
6.
Chan, S.W. and J. Messick (1975) "A survey of telecommunications projects in medical education and health care." East Lansing, MI: Office of Medical Education, Research and Development, Michigan State University.
7.
Cherry, C. (1957) On Human Communication. Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press.
8.
Collins, B.E. and B.H. Raven (1969) "Group structure: attraction, coalitions, communications and power," in G. Lindzey and E. Aronson (eds.) The Handbook of Social Pyschology , Vol. 4. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
9.
Communications Studies Group (1971) "Interim report, July 1971. Joint unit for planning research." London, England: University College.
10.
Farace, R.V., H.M. Russell and P.R. Monge (1974) Communicating and Organizing. East Lansing, MI: Michigan University.
11.
Gartrell, J.W. and N.M. Mendenhall (1975) Attitudes Towards Changes in Communications Technology: the Introduction of Teleconferencing. Ottawa, Canada: Communications Research Centre.
12.
Hague, J. (1965) "An axiomatic theory of organizations." Administrative Sci. Q.10, (December): 289-320.
13.
Hall, E.T. (1959) The Silent Language. Garden City, NY: Doubleday Anchor.
14.
Jull, G.W., R.W. McCaughern, N.M. Mendenhall, J.R. Storey, A.W. Tassie, and A. Zalatan (1976) Research Report on Teleconferencing, Volume 1, Executive Summary. Ottawa, Canada: Communications Research Centre.
15.
Kelly, J. (1974) Organizational Behaviour. Homewood, ILL: Richard D. Irwin.
16.
Kirste, K.K. and P.R. Monge (1974) "Proximity: location, time and opportunity to communicate ." Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Speech Communication Association. Newport Beach, CA:
17.
Korzenny, F. (1975) "Teleconferencing: an evaluation of a new communication device in organizations." East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University (unpublished).
18.
Marlowe, D. and K.J. Gergen (1969) "Personality and social interaction," in G. Lindzey and E. Aronson (eds.) The Handbook of Social Psychology, Vol. 3. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley .
19.
Miller, G.R. (1976) "Communication in the third 100 years: can humanity and technology coexist peacefully?" East Lansing, MI: Department of Communication, Michigan State University.
20.
——— and M. Steinberg (1975) Between People. Chicago, ILL : Science Research Associates.
21.
Monge, P.R. (1972) "The study of human communication from three systems paradigms." Ph.D. dissertation, Michigan State University (unpublished).
22.
Park, B. (1974) An Introduction to Telemedicine: Interactive Television for Delivery of Health Services. New York: Alternate Media Center.
23.
Ryan, M.G. (1975) "The influence of teleconferencing medium and status on participants' perception of the aestheticism, evaluation, privacy, potency, and activity of the medium." Paper presented at the Canadian-American Communication Symposium, Buffalo .
24.
and J.G. Craig (1975) "The influence of teleconferencing medium and status on attitudes towards the medium, attitudes towards the discussion, and mood ." Paper presented at the International Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois.
25.
——— (1975) "Intergroup telecommunication: the influence of communications medium and role induced status level on mood, and attitudes towards the medium and discussion." Paper presented at the International Communication Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
26.
Ryan, M.G. and N. Mendenhall (1975) "Social communications research in intergroup telecommunications: some recent findings." Ottawa, Canada: Communications Research Centre.
27.
Shepherd, C.R. (1964) Small Groups: Some Sociological Perspectives. San Francisco, CA: Chandler.
28.
Sommer, R. (1967) "Small Group Ecology," Psych. Bull.67, 2: 145-152.
29.
Stahmer, A.E.C. and M.D. Havron (1973) Planning Research in Teleconference Systems. McLean, VA: Human Sciences Research.
30.
Thayer, L. (1968) Communication and Communication Systems. Homewood, ILL: Richard D. Irwin.
31.
Vroom, H.V. (1969) "Industrial social psychology." in G. Lindzey and E. Aronson (eds.) The Handbook of Social Psychology, Vol. 5. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley .
32.
Weick. K.E. (1969) The Social Psychology of Organizing. Reading MA. Addison-Wesley.
33.
Zetterberg, H.L. (1963) On Theory and Verification in Sociology. Totowa, NJ: Bedminster Press.
