Changing interpersonal communication through groupware use

Interpersonal communication is the basis for almost any type of cooperation . Changing patterns of communication may have an impact on the quality of c ooperative work. In this paper, user experiences are described in a long-te rm groupware project. Communication changes, both planned and unplanned, we re examined as a result of the system introduction. Reduced face-to-face co mmunication, task-related and task-unrelated, were found, as well as a chan ging dissemination of information. Certain losses in interpersonal communic ation were compensated for by user advocacy and design team-user workshops. It is proposed that with groupware introduction, organizations should cons ider support for both planned and informal means as compensation for reduce d communication.