E-Leaders and Uncertainty Management: A Computer-Supported Qualitative Investigation

Abstract

Organizations are experiencing more online activity requiring more digital communication than ever before. Due to these increasing electronic experiences and the uncertainties that result for electronic leaders (e-leaders), this study explored the strategies e-leaders use to manage uncertainties within organizational settings. To accomplish this inquiry, computer-supported analysis examined 281 qualitative responses to an e-leader survey. Findings revealed that conditional communication, team, time, and technology strategies are widely deployed by e-leaders to manage the shared uncertainties of people, time, and technology. Further, conditional communication was found to be a ubiquitous and highly co-occurring strategy allowing e-leaders to move from computer mediated communication to face-to-face communication and vice versa, to utilize different channels and messages dependent upon varied goal needs, and to encourage feedback and the sharing of organizational leadership across different technology spaces.

Keywords::

• E-Leaders
• E-Leadership
• Leadership
• Leadership Communication
• Uncertainty Management

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Curt Gilstrap

Curt Gilstrap (PhD, Purdue University, 2003) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave., Springfield, MO 65809. E-mail: [email protected]

Brian Hendershot

Brian Hendershot (MA Candidate, Drury University) is a Graduate Student in the Department of Communication at Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave., Springfield, MO 65809. E-mail: [email protected]