Modern Times, Modern Spaces: Interaction Genres and Multiminding in Network-Based Work

1. Modern Times, Modern Spaces:
Interaction Genres and Multiminding in Network-Based Work
Dawna I. Ballard
University of Texas at Austin, Moody College of Communication

2. Chronemics...
study of time as it is bound to
human communication

3. Time talks. Space speaks. Hall,1959, 1966, 1983
The Silent Language
basic underlying cultural assumption
deepest level of culture that contains taken-for-granted and institutionalized beliefs and values
seldom rise to the conscious level for examination and discussion

4. Task vs Relational
distractions, privacy, inclusion in
work life

5. INSTITUTIONAL AND TECHNICAL
ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS
COMMUNICATION
STRUCTURES
Activity
Coordination
Workplace
Technologies
Feedback
Cycles
DIMENSIONS OF
TEMPORAL EXPERIENCE
ENACTMENTS
Flexibility
Linearity
Pace
Punctuality
Delay
Scheduling
Separation
CONSTRUALS
Scarcity
Urgency
Past Time Focus
Present Time Focus
Future Time Focus
SYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS
Industry Norms
Occupational
Norms
Organizational
Culture
Work Group
Norms
INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Social Identity
Home‐Work Conflicts
Personality
Demographics
OUTCOMES
Communication Load
Interdepartmental
Relationships
Job Satisfaction
 = influences
‐‐ = moderates
12 dimensions

6. Separation…availability of attentional resources in time and space
small time scales (e.g., hourly, daily)

7. Proxemics...
study of space as it is bound to
human communication

8. Then things changed…globally.
Interaction work (McKinsey, 2012)
relies upon complex communication and coordination with others, yet requires independent judgment

9. CHRONEMICS
PROXEMICS
Synchronous
Asynchronous
ConnectingCommuting
Remote
ContemplatingChoosing
culling
same time
different time
our time
my time
my space
Colocated
our space
same spacedifferent space
Interaction Genres, circa 2008 (Austin, TX)
Separation (2x2) = 4 interaction genres
Space = Co-located versus Remote
Time = Synchronous versus Asynchronous
“socially recognized type of communicative actions…that are habitually enacted by members of a community to realize particular social
purposes…” (Orlikowski & Yates, 1994)

10. Then things changed more…circa 2012, globally
Interaction work (McKinsey, 2012)
relies upon complex communication and coordination with others, yet requires independent judgment

11. Minding (circa 2008, Silicon Valley CA)
attention management strategy
considers broader time scales (e.g., from hourly to annually)
beyond tasking (central to industrial work)
Hall, 1959 (anthropology) vs. Thompson, 1967 (historian)

12. CHRONEMICS
PROXEMICS
Synchronous
Asynchronous
ConnectingCommuting
Remote
ContemplatingChoosing
culling
same time
different time
our time
my time
my space
Colocated
our space
same spacedifferent space
Interaction Genres, circa 2008 (Austin, TX)
Separation (2x2) = 4 interaction genres
Space = Co-located versus Remote
Time = Synchronous versus Asynchronous
“socially recognized type of communicative actions…that are habitually enacted by members of a community to realize particular social
purposes…” (Orlikowski & Yates, 1994)

13. CHRONEMICS
PROXEMICS
Synchronous
Asynchronous
ConnectingCommuting
Remote
ContemplatingChoosing
culling
same time
different time
our time
my time
my space
Colocated
our space
same spacedifferent space
Interaction Genres, circa 2014
Together
across space
space of flows
Continuous
over time
timeless time
Separation (2x2) = 4 interaction genres
Space = Co-located versus Remote
Time = Synchronous versus Asynchronous
“socially recognized type of communicative actions…that are habitually enacted by members of a community to realize particular social
purposes…” (Orlikowski & Yates, 1994)

14. Contemplating Spatially = Co-located
Temporally = Asynchronous

15. Choosing Spatially = Remote
Temporally = Asynchronous

16. Commuting Spatially = Remote
Temporally = Synchronous

17. Coworking Spatially = Co-located
Temporally = Synchronous

18. (Multi)Minding Spatially = Together
Temporally = Continuous

19. to mind (v.)
1. to bring (an object or idea) to mind; remember 2. a. to become aware of;
notice b. to have in mind as a goal or purpose; intend 3. to attend to 4. to be
careful about 5. to care about; be concerned about 6. to take care or charge of;
look after