The impact of task characteristics on online group participation behavior: a study using information processing theory

PurposeIn the digital age, enterprise social media (ESM) use is becoming more prevalent in the workplace. The “group” function is a very important part in the use of ESM. This paper explores how the characteristics of employees' task requirements affect their group participation behaviors on th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inIndustrial management + data systems Vol. 123; no. 9; pp. 2269 - 2293
Main Authors Sun, Yuan, Gu, Chenyan, Zhou, Xinjie, Shang, Rong-An
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Wembley Emerald Publishing Limited 29.08.2023
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Subjects
Behavior
Collaboration
Communication
Correlation
Data processing
Design
Employees
Group dynamics
Information processing
Information systems
Participation
Staff participation
Task complexity
Web 2.0
Information processing theory
Group participation behavior
Task characteristics
Enterprise social media
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:PurposeIn the digital age, enterprise social media (ESM) use is becoming more prevalent in the workplace. The “group” function is a very important part in the use of ESM. This paper explores how the characteristics of employees' task requirements affect their group participation behaviors on the ESM.Design/methodology/approachBased on information processing theory, the authors establish a two-stage research model to explore the impact of task characteristics on employees' online group participation behavior in the context of ESM. Data were collected using a survey of 341 Chinese employees.FindingsThe results indicate that (1) task interdependence was positively correlated with participation in small closed groups; (2) task complexity was positively correlated with participation in small groups, large closed groups and open professional groups and (3) task non-routineness was positively correlated with participation in small groups, large closed groups and open professional groups.Originality/valueThis study builds on the literature on task characteristics, information processing theory and employees' online group participation behavior, contributing to the research on ESM in the field of information systems and providing guidance for enterprise practice.
ISSN:0263-5577
1758-5783
DOI:10.1108/IMDS-10-2022-0636