Flow in Computer-Mediated Communication

TLDR

Flow is introduced as a construct describing how employees perceive computer‑mediated communication technologies as playful or exploratory. The study examines how technology type, ease of use, computer skill, and organizational factors influence flow, and how flow and these factors affect employee evaluations and perceived impacts of e‑mail and voice mail. The authors surveyed employees at a large health‑care firm that had recently adopted both e‑mail and voice mail. LISREL analysis yielded mixed support for the proposed hypotheses.

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of multiple variables on user evaluation and perceived impacts of electronic mail and voice mail systems. It introduces flow as an important construct that characterizes perceptions of employee interactions with computer-mediated communication technologies as more or less playful and exploratory. Flow is hypothesized to be influenced by the technology (higher for electronic mail), ease of use, and computer skill. It is also proposed that flow, type of technology, perceived technology characteristics (ease of use), and organizational factors (management support, communication partners' medium use) positively influence employee evaluations and perceived impacts. A field survey was conducted at a large health care firm that had recently adopted both electronic mail and voice mail. The LISREL results provide mixed support for the hypotheses.