Digitized Communication at Work

This chapter provides an overview on classic and current approaches to computer‐mediated communication (CMC). It discusses theories and models that explain the selection of specific channels as well as the characteristics and psychological effects of CMC. The chapter also reviews theoretical approaches that describe the motivations why people selected the new channels, and the effects of CMC on people's interpersonal and intergroup impressions as well as their task fulfillment. Next, it reviews approaches that model relevant factors for digitized communication in the age of social media and information diversity. The chapter then focuses on different aspects, which are important parts of organizational activities and which have been influenced heavily by the emergence of social media platforms. It further addresses two fields that concern not only the individual but also the organization, namely new opportunities for building knowledge and meta‐knowledge as well as building relationships. The third field focuses the realm of cooperation in small groups.