Teleconferencing is not always an ideal mode of communication.
Teleconferencing is hard to classify due to the variety of ways technology is being used for communicating over long distances. In "Principles of Management," K. Anbuvelan states, "In general, most people think of teleconferencing as a group of people interacting with each other by means of audio and video media with moving or still pictures, audio with snapshots on video monitor or a live video system." While teleconferencing saves travel expense and time, it is not always good substitute for face-to-face meetings. It is expensive, makes group rapport difficult and is subject to technical failures.
Poor Substitutes for Face-to-Face Meetings
Due to a lack of body language and eye contact, telecommunication is often hampered. It's not easy to decipher meaning without these aids. According to the Journal of Communication Studies, "Communication studies have indicated that up to 80 percent of the comprehension of discussion arises through body language and eye contact, [with] only some 20 percent through the words spoken." Apart from spoken word and tones, gestures play a significant role in interpreting meaning, which is lost in teleconferencing since people become formal when they are on a camera. In his book, "Intelligent Management Support Systems," Hossein Bidgoli states, "People become less relaxed, more rigid and less open."
Difficult to Create Group Rapport
Teleconferencing is an impersonal means of communicating. It's very difficult to create a group rapport, which is essential to the outcome of the meeting. Face-to-face meetings often create an informal atmosphere, allowing the participants to relax and develop a comfort level with each other. Due to the level of formality and unapproachability it imbues in its users, teleconferencing is specifically not suitable for negotiation, job interviews, contract reviews or bargaining efforts which rely on interpersonal communication, and is thereby limited in its viability. Many people consider it important to maintain eye contact, observe other's gestures and shake hands to establish rapport.
Group Participation Becomes Difficult to Maneuver
When using telecommunication, it is difficult for the chairperson to ensure that all participants get their turn to speak and prevent a few overly ambitious people from dominating the discussion. "Even with the best will and best chairperson, it can take a good deal longer to arrive at the proper conclusion than a fully interactive meeting," states Harold Koontz in "Essentials of Management."
Technical Issues
In a teleconferencing situation, equipment might break down, bringing the operation to a halt. This can lead to delay and can be detrimental to a business, especially if the meeting is urgent. While video conferencing does enhance many presentations with charts, models and graphs, if technical problems occur, like poor sound quality, unclear video or interrupted connections, its usage may do more harm than good. Moreover, participants might not be comfortable handling the equipment.
Expensive for Small Companies
The equipment cost and dial-up plans are often considered expensive by some companies. It is not suitable for small companies who have a group of workers and clients situated nearby.
Unnecessary Meetings
Since teleconferences are touted as saving people time and expenditure, meetings might be held more often than necessary.
Tags: body language, body language contact, each other, group rapport, language contact, with each
