Communication in a Virtual Organization (Managerial Communication Series, 3)

Abstract

STUDENTS AND NEW MANAGERS interested in the complexities of managing work relationships through electronically mediated communication will find this book an easy read. Its 109 pages blend theory, knowledge, and practice from three different disciplines (management, technical writing, and communication). Collins urges readers to confront directly how new technologies have changed where and how we work. Appropriate as a supplemental text for undergraduate courses in business writing, management, and communication, the book also provides practical tips for managers interested in selecting communication media, managing remote workers, and using e-mail effectively.In the opening chapter, "A Coming of Age," Collins notes that virtual organizations are collectivist, that is, they "recognize the value of collaboration and networking rather than relying on pure authority" or traditional bureaucracies (p. 7). This emphasis is important in two ways. First, it reminds us that the quintessentially human dynamic of our communication practices should remain our central focus, not the technology used to facilitate it. Second, it demonstrates the difficulties that may arise in the implementation of the ideal "new" organization. The new organization is idealized by Ancona, Kochan, Scully, Van Maanen, and Westney (1999) as flat, flexible, networked, global, and diverse, that is, one that emphasizes greater flexibility, speed, and reliance on networked structures and de-emphasizes bureaucracy. Communication in a Virtual Organization seeks to describe how communication technologies have evolved and continue to shape the nature of communication, work arrangements, and organizational culture.