Communication Objectives Model (COM) Identifies Critical Thresholds for Telepresence Technology Adoption
A structured framework, the Communication Objectives Model (COM), can quantify the differences between face-to-face and computer-mediated communication (CMC) to inform decisions on when to adopt telepresence technologies.
Academic Publication · 2021
Key Findings
- 01The COM framework provides a structured approach to differentiate the performance of communication objectives across various media.
- 02The framework includes key psychosocial constructs such as trust, rapport, engagement, conflict management, collective efficacy, mental models, and shared situation awareness.
- 03The COM can inform the development of a 'travel replacement threshold' to guide decisions on when to use CMC instead of in-person meetings.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing or selecting communication technologies, explicitly consider the specific communication objectives and evaluate how well each medium supports critical psychosocial constructs like trust and rapport.
How to apply
Use the COM framework to analyze the communication needs of a project or team, and then assess whether existing or proposed telepresence technologies adequately support the identified psychosocial constructs.
Project actions
- 01When evaluating communication tools, think about the specific goals of the communication, not just the technology itself.
- 02Consider how factors like trust and engagement are affected by different communication methods.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a structured, multi-construct framework for analyzing communication effectiveness.
- +Integrates insights from various psychological and human-computer interaction fields.
Limitations
The complexity of measuring abstract psychosocial constructs can be a challenge. The 'travel replacement threshold' is a conceptual tool that may require empirical validation in specific organizational contexts.
Reliability & validity
The reliability and validity of the COM framework would depend on the robustness of the measurement methods used for its constituent psychosocial constructs. The framework itself aims to provide a valid conceptual structure for understanding communication differences.
Think critically
How might the 'travel replacement threshold' vary significantly across different industries or types of team tasks, and what factors would drive these variations?
Design Principles
"Design communication technologies to explicitly support key psychosocial constructs that are critical for achieving specific communication objectives, and quantify the trade-offs between in-person and mediated interactions."
As remote and hybrid work models become more prevalent, understanding the nuanced differences in communication effectiveness is crucial for designing and implementing appropriate technologies. The COM framework provides a systematic way to evaluate which communication objectives are best served by in-person interactions versus virtual solutions, optimizing resource allocation and user experience.
What This Means for Your Design
This research created a way to measure how well different ways of talking (in person vs. online) achieve goals, helping decide when online tools are good enough instead of meeting face-to-face.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the COM framework to justify the choice of communication methods or technologies in your design project, explaining how they support specific communication objectives.
- 2.Reference the COM to analyze the trade-offs between in-person and virtual communication for your design context.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2021). Communication Objectives Model (COM): A Taxonomy of Face-to-Face Communication Objectives to Inform Tele-Presence Technology Adoption. Academic Publication. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/3q4u2 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/a04d8f16-7334-409b-a834-cdb1bb6a4e87/communication-objectives-model-com-identifies-critical-thresholds-for-telepresence-technology-adoption
Paragraph starter
The Communication Objectives Model (COM) provides a valuable framework for analyzing the effectiveness of different communication media. By considering key psychosocial constructs such as trust, rapport, and engagement, designers can make informed decisions about adopting telepresence technologies, ensuring that the chosen medium adequately supports critical communication objectives and potentially establishing a 'travel replacement threshold' for in-person interactions.
Source
Academic Publication
Communication Objectives Model (COM): A Taxonomy of Face-to-Face Communication Objectives to Inform Tele-Presence Technology Adoption
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about communication objectives model (com) identifies critical thresholds for telepresence technology adoption?
- When designing or selecting communication technologies, explicitly consider the specific communication objectives and evaluate how well each medium supports critical psychosocial constructs like trust and rapport. Evidence: Academic Publication (2021).
- Why does "Communication Objectives Model (COM) Identifies Critical Thresholds for Telepresence Technology Adoption" matter for design?
- As remote and hybrid work models become more prevalent, understanding the nuanced differences in communication effectiveness is crucial for designing and implementing appropriate technologies. The COM framework provides a systematic way to evaluate which communication objectives are best served by in-person interactions versus virtual solutions, optimizing resource allocation and user experience.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing or selecting communication technologies, explicitly consider the specific communication objectives and evaluate how well each medium supports critical psychosocial constructs like trust and rapport.
- What were the main findings?
- The COM framework provides a structured approach to differentiate the performance of communication objectives across various media.. The framework includes key psychosocial constructs such as trust, rapport, engagement, conflict management, collective efficacy, mental models, and shared situation awareness.. The COM can inform the development of a 'travel replacement threshold' to guide decisions on when to use CMC instead of in-person meetings.
- What research method was used?
- Framework Development and Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2021 journal from Academic Publication.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Use the COM framework to analyze the communication needs of a project or team, and then assess whether existing or proposed telepresence technologies adequately support the identified psychosocial constructs.
- What are the limitations?
- The study presents a hypothetical implementation of the framework and relies on existing literature for empirical evidence; direct empirical validation of the 'travel replacement threshold' may be needed.
- Is there evidence that communication objectives affects design outcomes?
- A new model called COM helps understand how well different communication methods achieve specific goals, offering guidance on when virtual tools are as effective as in-person meetings. As remote and hybrid work models become more prevalent, understanding the nuanced differences in communication effectiveness is crucial Source: Academic Publication (2021).
- Where does this objectives model research apply?
- Remote and hybrid work environments, telepresence technology adoption, computer-mediated communication (CMC). It sits within innovation & design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
communication objectives design research · evidence on communication objectives · does communication objectives improve design outcomes · objectives model studies for designers · communication objectives and objectives model findings · innovation & design research evidence