No abstract

Communication technology is an essential part of virtual teams in working life. This article presents a qualitative study on the meanings of communication technology in virtual team meetings. The study was conducted by examining frames of technology-related virtual team interaction. Observational data was gathered from six expert team meetings. Technologyrelated communication episodes (N=88) were identified from team interaction and then analyzed by means of frame analysis. Four frame categories were found: the practical frame, work frame, user frame, and relational frame. Team members talked about technological properties and functions as well as giving and receiving technological guidance. They also discussed technology in relation to work tasks, contemplated technology users' attributes, and built and maintained relationships with technology. The results indicate that virtual team members give meanings to communication technology while interacting. Communication technology has several meanings-it is seen as a tool for work, a reason for uncertainty, a useful benefit, a challenge, an object of competence, an entity of technical properties, a subject of guidance, a way to express closeness, and a shared space. The results presented in this article deepen our understanding of the role communication technology plays in the dayto-day interaction of virtual teams. The results recommend developing both technological systems and team members' ways of using them, as well as providing opportunities to negotiate the meanings of technology and thus avoid frame disputes. In addition, ensuring that virtual teams use technological systems that support their unique communicational needs is suggested.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore what kinds of communication challenges management teams (MTs) experience and to suggest ideas for developing competent communication practices. Design/methodology/approach -Working according to the principles of qualitative research, a total of seven MT members from seven different international companies were interviewed. The thematic in-depth interviews were analyzed by first looking at all references of communication challenges, and then grouping them into six different dimensions.

Communication has a constitutive role in the workplace; in workplace communication the organization comes into being. In workplace communication workers create and negotiate meanings and a shared understanding of important work-related issues. Communication is also essential for a functional working environment. Especially in knowledge-based work members of the workplace aim at success, efficiency, and productivity by discussing, conversing, debating, and providing and receiving feedback. Hence, when striving to establish a healthy workplace with high levels of satisfaction and well-being, one has to understand the dynamics of workplace communication. This chapter examines interpersonal communication and social interaction in the workplace and the impact they have on the work organization and its activities. The chapter explores the fundamental perspectives on workplace communication: the constitutive perspective of communication, coordinated management of meaning, interactional frames, task-related, relational, and identity dimensions of communication, and the discourse perspective as well as the structuration perspective on communication. The chapter also presents the structure of the book.

Various utopias and dystopias about the significance of human communication in the future workplace have been presented. Artificial intelligence (AI) will undoubtedly be one of the most remarkable influences on future work, and employees must prepare themselves to have social robots as coworkers. Partly as a result of the increased use of AI, various forms of selfemployment will gain ground. Lifelong occupations and professions will be less common, and the value of one's ever-evolving skills and knowledge, applicable to diverse work contexts, will consequently receive more emphasis. Knowledge work will increasingly take place in digital communication environments, and telework and other forms of flexible work will continue to grow in popularity. Because communication between people is indispensable, there will always be human work that cannot be automated. Interpersonal work will remain essential.Proficiency in interpersonal and team communication will definitely be a key asset for anyone working under changing circumstances, in varying contexts, and with diverse colleagues. The development of communication competence and the learning of interpersonal skills are vital for future work.