ABSTRACT
The ability to use technology for communicating, managing group projects, and completing tasks has become ubiquitous in the last decade. Early group researchers focused on communicative differences between face-to-face (FTF) and computer-mediated communication (CMC) groups. However, with the increase in personal computers, mobile phones, as well as the capabilities of these devices, groups now fall on a range of virtuality, with technology use becoming more common in all groups settings rather than limited to geographically dispersed or CMC groups. This chapter focuses on how groups utilize technology during their work. It begins with a review of research on FTF and CMC groups, then outlines key theoretical perspectives on technology use (media richness theory, adaptive structuration theory, and multicommunication), how groups decide what technology to use, and costs and benefits for technology use. Recommendations for practitioners round out the chapter.
