Virtual vs. Real Time Communications Lecture 5: Effective Communications Skills

Virtual Virtual means the quality of affecting something without actually being that something “Virtual Bob" is a man with another name that can get just as many chores done around the house as the real Bob In information technology, there seems to be a virtual version of (virtually) everything

Virtual Relationships Virtual relationships are is ones: Whose members are geographically apart Usually working by computer e-mail & social media platforms While appearing to others to be a single, unified relationship with a real physical location

Virtual Communication Information, communication, & action, mediated by new information technologies, where contents, intentions, or actors may be nonexistent, distorted, replaced, or created- intentionally or unintentionally Technology-mediated communication that takes place asynchronously (such as through a fax, voicemail, e-mail, texting, or social media such as Twitter and Facebook or via electronic discussion groups)

Real Communication “Real” communication: an exchange of ideas that takes place synchronously (in real time) Such as through face-to-face communication, a telephone call, videoconference, or electronic chat room.

Communications Technologies Available Older ones: Telephone Print Voicemail Fax E-mail Newer ones: Texting Twitter Facebook Instagram Skype/FaceTime Videoconferencing

Asynchronous communication - 1 There is always some form of mediation (electronic or otherwise) between the sender and receiver It doesn’t require a recipient be immediately present to receive the communication Each type of asynchronous communication carries its own personality (formality/informality, urgency, level of detail it can present, etc.)

Asynchronous communication - 2 The communications skills needed depend on the medium mediating the communication and are more oriented toward content than context The nonverbal clues of synchronous communication are missing (although each type of asynchronous communication has its own nonverbal communication) Because there is no opportunity for immediate questions or feedback, the sender must include all the details needed by the receiver to fully understand the message

Synchronous communication - 1 The communication can be either mediated (telephone call or skype for example) or unmediated (as in face-to-face communication) The sender & receiver are present at same time There can be a rich set of nonverbal clues present to help participants interpret communication content & meaning Although medium used adds its own characteristics, it is the personality of the communicators that imparts the formality, urgency, and level of detail to the communication

Synchronous communication - 2 The communications skills of the communicators are balanced between the content and the context of the message Noise can also be a factor in disrupting/distorting a message, but the types and sources can differ from those in an asynchronous communication Because there is opportunity for immediate feedback, the sender and receiver constantly negotiate the level of detail required for the message to be fully understood

Factors of Communicating with virtual communicators - 1: Are they mobile or in a fixed location? What technology do they have available? What resources do they have available to maintain their technology? What is the environment in which they work? Is it secure? What are the distractions? What time zone are they in?

Factors of Communicating with virtual communicators - 2: Are there technological restrictions in their area (such as brownouts or power restrictions)? How much information do they need? What kinds of information do they need? How often do they need to be communicated with?

Stimulus Questions What types of “noise” might interfere with message transmission, receipt, and understanding when using communications technologies? What types of messages would be best communicated by communications technologies? How do the communications needs of individuals communicating asynchronously differ from those communicating synchronously?

Stimulus Questions What characteristics of a message would you consider when selecting the best way to deliver it to its recipients? What do you consider the top five skills communicators must have to communicate successfully in a virtual environment? What do you consider the primary advantages of synchronous versus asynchronous communication? Asynchronous versus synchronous communications?