Analysis of Distance Collaboration Modalities: Alternatives to Meeting Face-to-Face

Abstract

Physical and temporal boundaries are rapidly diminishing in an age of swiftly advancing information communication technologies. Today’s technologically sophisticated business and organizational environments offer a number of distance collaboration modalities (DSMs) that can facilitate efficient and cost-effective meetings that have traditionally required face-to-face meeting venues. Selection of the DCMs that maximize meeting effectiveness is significantly challenging given the wide diversity of available options. Theory and empirical data can be useful as a guide in the selection of the most appropriate DCMs to maximize organizational productivity and success. This article reviews the literature on the behavioral and technical affordances and limitations of the various DCMs. It also provides a theoretical model based on media synchronicity theory to help guide selection of effective DCMs. This theoretical framework emphasizes the primacy of media alignment with core communication processes as well as social and interpersonal factors that influence meeting effectiveness.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Department of Army or the Department of Defense.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nancy A. Skopp

Nancy A. Skopp received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. She is a Research Psychologist and Program Manager for the National Center for Telehealth & Technology and an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Don E. Workman

Don E. Workman received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is Director, Emerging Technologies Program, leading efforts to harnesstechnologies to promote psychological health. He is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience in the primary care, psychiatric, and rehabilitation settings.

Jamie L. Adler

Jamie L. Adler received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University. He directs the National Center for Telehealth and Technology’s Telehealth Program: a key analysis, coordination, and planning resource for technology-mediated remote Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury care for the Department of Defense’s 9.6 million healthcare beneficiaries.

Gregory A. Gahm

Gregory A. Gahm received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the State University of New York, Stony Brook, and was the founding Director of the National Center for Telehealth and Technology following a successful career as a U.S. Army psychologist and combat veteran. He has led multiple suicide and technology research projects.