A32. Rice,
R.E. & Shook, D. (1990). Relationships of job categories and organizational
levels to use of communication channels, including electronic mail: A meta-analysis
and extension. Journal of Management Studies, 27(2), 195-229.
This study tests hypotheses derived from information processing
theory concerning relationships between individuals' job category, organizational
level, and levels and patterns of media usage. Media studied include face-to-face,
meetings, memos/letters, telephone and electronic mail. In the meta-analysis
of over 40 studies, usage of different media was significantly different
for manager/executives versus others, and was highly correlated with organizational
level. In the individual-level analyses of four organizations, the majority
of respondents were classified into their actual job categories, and according
to distances between organizational levels, by a discriminant function
involving only relative extent of media use, especially participation in
meetings. Contrary to information richness theory, upper-level respondents
(managers) did not necessarily use electronic mail less than did lower-level
respondents (clerical workers). The article concludes by discussing implications
for theories of organizational media use and implementation of electronic
mail systems.