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Beyond Being There: The Symbolic Role of Communication and Identification in the Emergence of Perceived Proximity in Geographically Dispersed Work

Author

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  • Michael Boyer O'Leary

    (Chercheur indépendant)

  • Anca Metiu

    (ESSEC Business School)

  • Jeanne M. Wilson

    (Chercheur indépendant)

Abstract

We develop the concept of perceived proximity, understood as a symbolic representation of one's faraway coworkers. We build on Wilson et al. (2008), present new validated measures of perceived proximity, and compare how perceived proximity and objective distance relate to relationship outcomes between geographically dispersed work colleagues. Our results show strong support for a symbolic view of work relationships. Indeed, it is the symbolic meaning of proximity and not physical proximity itself that affects relationship outcomes. Also, the symbolic meaning of proximity is defined not by physical proximity, but by people's sense of shared identity and by their use of (mostly synchronous) communication media. Furthermore, we find that how the sense of proximity is symbolically constructed mediates the effects of communication and identity on relationship outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Boyer O'Leary & Anca Metiu & Jeanne M. Wilson, 2011. "Beyond Being There: The Symbolic Role of Communication and Identification in the Emergence of Perceived Proximity in Geographically Dispersed Work," Post-Print hal-00661000, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00661000
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://essec.hal.science/hal-00661000
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    Cited by:

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    2. Paula Caligiuri & Helen De Cieri & Dana Minbaeva & Alain Verbeke & Angelika Zimmermann, 2020. "International HRM insights for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for future research and practice," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(5), pages 697-713, July.
    3. Damien Talbot & Sandra Charreire-Petit & Alexis Pokrovsky, 2020. "La proximité comme perception de la distance. Le cas de la télémédecine," Revue française de gestion, Lavoisier, vol. 0(4), pages 51-74.
    4. Anne-Laure Fayard & Anca Metiu, 2014. "The Role of Writing in Distributed Collaboration," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(5), pages 1391-1413, October.
    5. Edward G. Anderson Jr. & Aravind Chandrasekaran & Alison Davis-Blake & Geoffrey G. Parker, 2018. "Managing Distributed Product Development Projects: Integration Strategies for Time-Zone and Language Barriers," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(1), pages 42-69, March.
    6. Julia Balogun & Jean M. Bartunek & Boram Do, 2015. "Senior Managers’ Sensemaking and Responses to Strategic Change," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 960-979, August.
    7. Jakob Wirth & Christian Maier & Sven Laumer & Tim Weitzel, 2019. "Perceived information sensitivity and interdependent privacy protection: a quantitative study," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(3), pages 359-378, September.
    8. Paula Caligiuri & Helen De Cieri & Dana Minbaeva & Alain Verbeke & Angelika Zimmermann, 0. "International HRM insights for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for future research and practice," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-17.

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