Technologies of Status Negotiation: Status Dynamics in Email Discussion Groups

This chapter considers the social structuring processes that occur in groups that use computer medicated communication (CMC). We propose several mechanisms through which status is created, negotiated, and managed in such groups. This chapter builds on earlier model of status dynamics in face-to-face groups (Owens, 1998; Owens & Sutton, 1999) to develop a series of propositions about how the differences between face-to-face and computer-mediated communication affect how group members attempt to manage their status. We use qualitative data from on-going work groups to ground and guide this perspective on how communication technology shapes status negotiation.