Abstract
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a drastic shift in many organizations’ communication styles. Businesses had to adapt to the pandemic regulations which resulted in a majority of employees moving into a virtual work environment. The study conducted 15 semi-structured interviews to draw from the experiences professional employees have had while working within a virtual environment to explore how cross-departmental informal communication can lead to a more substantial online presence across an organization’s shared virtual environment. Additionally, the study examined how organizational employees communicate shared experiences through computer-mediated communication. Previous research has been done surrounding individuals communicating through computer-mediated communication, moreover, centered in the workplace. Furthermore, researchers found four themes present: participants experienced negative emotions towards working from home, identifying limitations faced within a virtual environment, specifically a need for personal connection, participants seeking out informal communication, and benefits from engaging in informal communication.
Presenters
Kelsey ZookStudent, Doctoral Candidate , Bowling Green State University , Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Organizational Communication, Computer-Mediated Communication, Work-From-Home, COVID-19, Virtual Environments
