Can a lean e-mail medium be used for rich communication? a psychological perspective

Abstract

Media richness theory has been one of the most influential theories in media choice and use for the last decade. The theory has become a controversial research issue in recent years, because some research findings are contrary to the prediction of the theory and therefore cast doubts on it. Until now, we have not fully known why and how a lean e-mail medium can be used to convey effectively rich information in organizations, contradicting the prediction of media richness theory. This paper intends to address this issue, and, from a psychological perspective, provides a theoretical explanation of why and how rich communication in a lean e-mail medium can be realised. © 1998 Operational Research Society Ltd. All rights reserved.