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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

E-Mail and the Breakdown of Trust

In Rockmann and Northcraft's study, 200 students were divided into teams and asked to manage two complicated projects: one having to do with nuclear disarmament; the other, price fixing. Some groups communicated via e-mail, some via videoconference and others face to face. In the end, those who met in person showed the most trust and most effective cooperation; those using e-mail were the least able to work together and get the job done. (Let's hope they weren't the ones working on disarmament.)

Read more:

Why E-Mail May Be Hurting Off-Line Relationships

Belinda Luscombe for Time

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