Communication Theory: Is Email a Lean or a Rich Media?

According to traditional media rich theory, email is text-based, inherently asynchronous and can not send non-text queues such as facial expression, body language, tone, so email is considered a wasteful medium .

However, the research challenged this concept in communication theory and found support for email as rich media.

According to research on communication theory, e-mails can create rich interactions between senders and recipients.

The mainstream view in current communication theory is that e-mail has particular aspects of rich and lean media, some of which depend on the individual's knowledge base and the type of information being conveyed, adapt to different kinds of structures I found out that I can do it. And style design elements and rhetorical factors

You may have to communicate tasks to reduce uncertainty (including finding the correct answer to the problem) or to reduce ambiguity (to find the correct answer). According to the richness theory of media, lean media (e-mail) is best for reducing uncertainty and rich media (face-to-face) is ideal for reducing ambiguity.

The mainstream view in current communication theory is that e-mail has particular aspects of rich and lean media, some of which depend on the individual's knowledge base and the type of information being conveyed, adapt to different kinds of structures I found out that I can do it. And style design elements and rhetorical factors

Understanding the theory of media richness can be helpful in exploring the impact of various types of communication media on messages. Media theory of richness derives mainly from the literature on computer mediated communication (CMC), and it is often related to business communication. In this context, the media richness theory is used to analyze the selection of communication media and to help reduce the ambiguity of communication by proper selection of communication media.

A rich media theory was introduced in 1986 by Richard L. Daft and Robert H. Lengel. Based on the theoretical basis of information processing theory, MRT was originally developed to describe and evaluate media within the organization. In introducing abundant media theory, Daft and Lengel helped organizations tackle communication challenges, such as interpretation of unclear or confusing information or inconsistent information. Other communication scholars have tested the theory to improve it, and the theory of modern media richness has been applied retroactively to include new media media like improved video and online conferences It was. Although media rich theory is related to media use rather than media selection, theoretical empirical research often studies media where media managers choose communication rather than the impact of media use.