Roger J Calantone, Clyde W Holsapple and Linda Ellis Johnson
Computer technology has affected not only the way that organizations process routine transactions and make decisions, but has significantly altered the means by which they communicate. Original efforts to unite computer and communication technology has yielded communication systems that serve to replace existing communication channels. However, another possibility exists for this technology that has been relatively unexplored - communication support. Exploration of communication support phenomena in organizations can provide a new frontier for research, discourse, and system development opportunities. Such opportunities span the boundaries of communication, organizations, and computer technology. A taxonomy of communication support systems would be beneficial in understanding the role of present systems and determining where future development opportunities exist.