Reducing Status Effects with Computer-Mediated Communication: Evidence from Two Distinct National Cultures

Abstract:

Matching laboratory experiments were conducted in two distinct national cultures to investigate whether computer-mediated communication (CMC) can reduce status effects during group communication in both national cultures. Three independent variables were studied: national culture (Singapore versus U.S.), task type (intellective versus preference), and communication medium (unsupported versus CMC). Three different facets of status effects were measured as dependent variables: status influence, sustained influence, and perceived influence. Singapore groups reported higher sustained influence than U.S. groups. Preference task groups experienced higher status influence and sustained influence than intellective task groups. Unsupported groups also had higher status influence and sustained influence compared to CMC groups. In addition, Singapore groups that completed the preference task in the unsupported setting reported higher perceived influence than groups under other treatments. These results demonstrate that CMC appears to be able to reduce status effects during group communication, both in Singapore and in the United States. This is especially true when groups are working on a preference task. Moreover, status influence appears to be more sustainable in Singapore groups, where group members appear to be more conscious of its presence, than in U.S. groups.

Key Words and Phrases:

• communication medium
• computer-mediated communication
• national culture
• status effects
• task type

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bernard C. Y. Tan

Bernard C.Y. Tan is a Lecturer in the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at the National University of Singapore. He received his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in information systems from the National University of Singapore. He has been a Visiting Scholar in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. He has published in Journal of Management Information Systems, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Information and Management, Decision Support Systems, and European Journal of Information Systems. His research focuses on group support systems, electronic data interchange, and information systems management and development.

Kwok-Kee Wei

Kwok-Kee Wei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at the National University of Singapore. He is Head of the Information Systems Division. He has been a Visiting Fellow at City University of Hong Kong and an officer in the Singapore Armed Forces. He received his D.Phil. in computer science from the University of York (United Kingdom). He is on the editorial board of MIS Quarterly. He has published in MIS Quarterly, Journal of Management Information Systems, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, ACM SIGMOD Records, Information and Management, Decision Support Systems, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, and European Journal of Information Systems. His research focuses on group support systems, human-computer interaction, electronic commerce (Internet and electronic data interchange), and virtual organizations.

Richard T. Watson

Richard T. Watson is a Professor in the Department of Management at the University of Georgia. He has a Ph.D. in management information systems from the University of Minnesota. He has published in leading journals in MIS, auditing, marketing, business ethics, and communication, and has written books on data management and electronic commerce. He is on the editorial boards of MIS Quarterly and three other journals. His current research, which has a strong international flavor, focuses primarily on electronic commerce and management of the MIS function.

Rita M. Walczuch

Rita M. Walczuch is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems in the Department of International Business Studies at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She received her Ph.D. in management information systems from the University of Georgia. Her research interests include group support systems, data protection legislation, transborder data flow, and international aspects of information systems in general.