Managerial ratings of written compositions: Impact of information technology on the persuasiveness of communications

Managers spend about two-thirds of their time communicating, but little IS research has considered technology’s effect on the communication process. Earlier findings indicated that communications composed at a keyboard differ structurally and stylistically from traditionally produced communications. Measuring eleven communication dimensions, the experimental study found that managers rated keyboard composed documents more positively than traditionally produced communications (using paper and pencil). Importantly, managers expressed more confidence in conclusions presented by writers using word processing tools than from those composed by traditional means. Thus, communication persuasiveness and effectiveness (from the writer’s perspective) was enhanced by using the technology.