Computer Mediated Communication in Negotiations: The Effect of Intragroup Faultlines on Intergroup Communication and Outcomes

Abstract

This work examines the effect of faultlines in virtual computer mediated communications of two collocated negotiation teams. We expand upon prior diversity literature by considering the effect of both surface and deep-level faultlines on the intergroup computer mediated communications in virtual negotiations. Faultlines are hypothetical lines that divide teams into multiple subgroups based on diversity attributes. We confirm that the effect of team diversity on intergroup computer mediated communications can be better captured through faultlines. Our results suggest that faultlines mediate the effect of diversity on teams’ computer mediated intergroup communication and that deep-level faultlines significantly lower the frequency and quality of intergroup communication of virtual negotiations.