Workplace Interaction in Formal and Informal Contexts - Abstract

ABSTRACT

Interpersonal interaction is often regarded as formal or informal based on a given set of standards. In the workplace, as well in as in the general social environment, different modes of communication may considered to be appropriate where others may not. This study has the objective of examining the existence and nature of the relationship between the context of a given communication event, and the characteristics of the communication that takes place.

In order to investigate the existence and nature of this relationship between modes of communication and context, the researcher analyzes his observations in the role of an observing participant1 in a mid-size US American software company that is disguised as MyMedia Unlimited. This method of data collection provides a thick description2 that is necessary for the effective analysis and conclusion.

Consistencies in the data collected suggest that when people with pre-existing informal or formal relationships find themselves in formal and informal situations respectively, they tend to make changes to the portrayal of aspects of their relationships that contradict the context. This advances the assertion that in the workplace, the nature of inter-party3 communication is influenced by the context with regard to the desired effect of the communication event.