On the pragmatics of network communication

ABSTRACT

Because of globalization and the rise of Internet, the competitive environment of firms is undergoing a fundamental change. Firms are increasingly forced to collaborate in networks. At the same time, social networks are growing tremendously in use and in functionality. In this paper, the current network era is perceived from a communication perspective. How do people communicate in a network? How could the communication be improved? For the analysis we draw on the Language Action Perspective (LAP). Central to this analysis is the question what people try to achieve by communication in social terms. At its inception, LAP was used in an intra-organizational context. The question is whether the same analysis and the same models are also applicable in a network context.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management

Keywords:
business networks, language/action, social networks, speech acts