Solidarity in Decision Making: An Empirical Investigation into Media Richness Via IT Promoting Convergence in Group Decision Making

Organizations search for effective ways working groups or teams can communicate. With the proliferation of computer mediated technology and the increasing channel richness provided by technology, organizations, as a result of technology, have reduced face-to-face meetings. This research focuses of the importance of media richness and the cohesion a group experiences by looking at eighty-seven 5-person teams. The assigned groups were provided with the options of utilizing MSN NetMeeting, Email, or Face-to-Face options as a means of communication needs. Data collected regarded cohesion, the perceived usefulness of the communication media selected, frequency of communication, performance outcomes, and general demographics. Results demonstrate first that media type (richness), and frequency of communication does affect the cohesion of a work group, and second that technology driven communication does not enhance cohesion. Organizations eager to include IT to enhance communication within groups may find a loss in group/team cohesion and resulting performance.