Adoption of Computer-Mediated Communications in the Private, Non-Profit Sector (original) (raw)

The Use of Computer-mediated Communication in an Interorganizational Context

Decision Sciences, 1997

The rapid growth of global telecommunication networks, and in particular the Internet, has placed emphasis on electronic mail's potential as an interorganizational communication medium allowing people from different organizations to communicate, gather information, form teams, and pass knowledge across time and place. An important area of research is to understand those factors affecting interorganizational computer-mediated communication usage decisions. This study examines how interorganizational electronic mail (email) systems are being used and what factors relate to this use. This was accomplished by electronically surveying a randomly selected sample of interorganizational email users. The 61 3 Internet-based respondents were located in 20 different countries and were from education, business, and govemment. This research examines the characteristics of interorganizational email users, their perceptions of task and channel attributes, and the relationship between these characteristics and interorganizational email use. Three empirically derived patterns of interorganizational email use emerged that showed it was regularly used for broadcast, task, and social communication. Broadcast usage, which reflects an informationgathering communication function, most likely through public bulletin boards, electronic discussion groups, and list servers, was the most frequent use of interorganizational email. Multivariate regression tests showed that the three different usage types were best predicted from different sets of independent variables. Results support past claims that there is a need to differentiate among types of use in explaining computermediated communication usage behavior. Implications and recommendations for both researchers and practitioners are drawn from the results.

The Benefits and Barriers Associated with the Use of the Internet Within the Non-Profit Sector

Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 2006

In the last few decades, advances in new information technologies in general and the adoption of the Internet in particular have attracted the attention of many academics and practitioners alike. Much of current research, however, is focused on for-profit organizations, and less emphasis has been placed on other organizational contexts, such as the non-profit sector. The purpose of this article

Intraorganizational Versus Interorganizational Uses and Benefits of Electronic Mail

Information Resources Management Journal, 2002

The success of an organization depends on rapid, reliable, and direct communications within the organization and with the outside world. To determine if electronic mail (e-mail) provides a competitive benefit, a sample of 99 management-level participants in 41 companies responded to a survey that assessed their intraorganizational (internal) and interorganizational (external) uses of e-mail. Through the use of factor analysis and regression methodologies, the researchers investigated whether a significant relationship exists between the internal and external uses and benefits of e-mail. The intraorganizational uses of e-mail indicated a significant and positive relationship with the organizational benefits of e-mail, thus, supporting the electronic exchange of information within organizations.However, the results indicated that interorganizational uses of e-mail did not promote corporate communication outside the company. Thus, managers need to know which communication technology is appropriate for intraorganizational and interorganizational uses.

The Effect of E-Mail Use and Adoption on Organizational Participation: The Case of a Public Administration

Human Systems Management

Improving organizational participation is becoming more and more important as organizations are trying to shift from a bureaucratic model based on work specialization and division of labor towards knowledge-intensive organizations built on competence sharing and team working. The aim of this paper is to investigate participation in decision making mediated by e-mail (e-PDM) among organizational members that are in similar hierarchical positions. The conceptual background of the study integrates the organizational theories on PDM and the computer-mediated communication (CMC) literature. Data analysis, based on an empirical research conducted in an Italian governmental agency, investigates the factors that affect the adoption of horizontal e-PDM in the workplace and to what extent this is mediated by the interplay between technology and social context. Our results suggest that social structuration of technology and social processes in organizations do have an impact on e-mail use for ...

The Internet Adoption by Non-Profit Organisations: An Exploratory Study

2003

During the last few decades, the advances of the new information technologies in general and the adoption of the Internet in particular have attracted the attention of many academics and practitioners. This trend has also been reflected in the increasing number of studies reporting the multiple potentialities and obstacles associa ted with this new technology. However, to date, much of the research undertaken has been mainly focused on for-profit organisations, and less emphasis has been concerned with other organisational contexts, such as the non-profit sector. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study is to analyse the extent to which non-profit organisations are adopting the Internet, how they are using it and with which purpose.

Using computers in corporate public affairs

Public Relations Review, 1982

The researchers surveyed senior public affairs and govermnent relations executives at 160 of tire nation's major corporations. Most of the respondents worked for energy industries or diversified financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies. Tlre authors found that, since 1975, there has been a large increase in both the awareness of tlie useful role computers can play in support of the public affairs function and in the actual use of computer technology. However, only a small mmzber of companies are using computers, and of those zvho do, most use computers to maintain lists. Very few use computers for more sophisticated functions, such as storage, retrieval and updating of speeches and position papers, correspondence, press releases, advertising information or legislative status reports. Ms. Glenn is the federal relations associate for tlre American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.

Nonprofit Organizations’ Perceptions and Uses of the Internet

Television & New Media Studies, 2008

This research examines how nonprofit organizations perceive and utilize the internet through the framework of Habermas’s theory of the public sphere. In seven focus groups across the country, 52 people responsible for creating internet strategy and/or web content for nonprofit organizations participated. Claims of sweeping improvements in democratic participation through the internet were not supported. Almost no organiza- tions utilized the technology for horizontal or vertical flows of communication, data communality, interactivity, or engaged participation. Furthermore, these nonprofit organizations believed the internet offered little democratizing power but paradoxically provided instant credibility. Those making communication decisions overwhelmingly performed in technical rather than strategic roles as they pushed their message out to the public without any regard to feedback or communication strategy. These individuals also believed the corporate model would drive future internet growth, although they rarely trained internet workers. Possible reasons for these findings and implications for nonprofit organizations are discussed.

An Empirical Study of Electronic Mail Usage

1995

With electronic mail becoming a common communication medium in organizations, it is important that managers understand the nature of its use and its potential impact on the organization. An empirical study was carried out to investigate the use and perceived impact of electronic mail at four different Canadian Public Sector departments (n = 2,437). Based upon a review of the literature, a number of propositions were generated dealing with electronic mail use, and its impact on organizational communications, on other forms of communication media, on productivity, on decision making, and on organizational climate. The differences between managers and non-managers, and males and females use and perceptions of the impact of electronic mail were also investigated.

Some effects of electronic mail use on the quality of relationships between different organizational functions

Computer Networks and ISDN Systems, 1996

The present study examined the effects of electronic mail systems on patterns of organizational communication. We interviewed 130 employees in a large national insurance company. An examination of the sales and underwriting functions indicated that differences in the availability and use of electronic communication may add to the mutual frictions inherent in the different demands and responsibilities of those organizational