A Relational Coordination Theory Perspective on Communication Tools in the Digital Workplace

Marthe Berntzen ()
Additional contact information
Marthe Berntzen: University of Oslo

Chapter Chapter 3 in Humanizing the Digital Workspace, 2025, pp 63-81 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In the digital workplace, digital communication tools provide a means for efficient communication, thereby facilitating knowledge and information sharing across spatial, geographical, and temporal borders. Moreover, work teams often use such collaboration tools to coordinate interdependent work elements. Although such tools are not new in themselves, recent years have seen marked developments in which tools are available and how they are used, and their functionality is constantly being further developed. Many knowledge workers today are familiar with using tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or other real-time chat software for communication with colleagues and other stakeholders, and new AI tools are about to make further changes in digital collaboration. This chapter takes a coordination approach to digital communication, presenting digital communication tools as coordination mechanisms that are essential for efficient digital collaboration. Specifically, we use relational coordination theory, which posits that work relationships characterized by high levels of shared knowledge, shared goals, mutual respect, and high-quality communication experience more efficient coordination. Moreover, although digital communication tools enable coordination, research has also shown there are many challenges related to digital collaboration. Some of these challenges may be mitigated by the relational coordination concepts. This chapter presents relational coordination theory as a lens for understanding digital coordination and collaboration by summarizing existing knowledge on relational coordination in the digital workplace. From this, it proposes a conceptual model with related propositions to inspire future research on the role of digital tools in collaborative settings.

Keywords: Relational coordination theory; Communication tools; Digital workplace; Collaboration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-031-76902-3_3

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783031769023

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-76902-3_3

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Books from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().