2021/09/30 by Anna Bleakley, Bleakley, Anna, Daniel Rough +15 · 2 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC) #Knowledge Management and Sharing #Team Dynamics and Performance
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2109.14965
openalex publication_date 2021/09/30 · openalex created_date 2022/07/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Video conferencing systems have long facilitated work-related conversations\namong remote teams. However, social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic has\nforced colleagues to use video conferencing platforms to additionally fulfil\nsocial needs. Social talk, or informal talk, is an important workplace practice\nthat is used to build and maintain bonds in everyday interactions among\ncolleagues. Currently, there is a limited understanding of how video\nconferencing facilitates multiparty social interactions among colleagues. In\nour paper, we examine social talk practices during the COVID-19 pandemic among\nremote colleagues through semi-structured interviews. We uncovered three key\nthemes in our interviews, discussing 1) the changing purposes and opportunities\nafforded by using video conferencing for social talk with colleagues, 2) how\nthe nature of existing relationships and status of colleagues influences social\nconversations and 3) the challenges and changing conversational norms around\npoliteness and etiquette when using video conferencing to hold social\nconversations. We discuss these results in relation to the impact that video\nconferencing tools have on remote social talk between colleagues and outline\ndesign and best practice considerations for multiparty videoconferencing social\ntalk in the workplace.\n