Face- to- Face Versus Internet

Face- to- Face Versus Internet
Define the business research and its purpose.
The research in this article reports if the internet is an appropriate method to discuss and resolve ethical issues in business. The research that was reported focuses on internet negotiations versus face- to- face negotiations of applied ethical discourse. * Explain the business problems under investigation. * The internet is a tool that can be used for almost anything, but there is a time and a place to use it as a means to communicate. The internet can be quicker because meeting face- to- face requires time for all parties to find a time to meet. However, a face- to- face meeting both parties can get a sense of how the other party truly feels by observing the expressions and tone of voice whereas the internet does not show the feelings of the parties. * Describe the data collection methods used in the research project. * A case was created and analyzed by a large group of subjects who had to make a choice, either keep a chemical plant open or shut it down. A group of 40 subjects were split into a group of 20 pairs based on their decision about the case and negotiated over the internet. Another 40 subjects were split into a group of 20 pairs using the same selection process and negotiated face- to- face. These groups used Brown’s (1996) classification for ethical arguments and Brown’s basic model contains four elements related to ethical discourse. The four elements are; proposals, observations, value judgments, and assumptions. * What did the researchers conclude as a result of their research? * Negotiations were found to be more successful when alternative methods other than value judgments and assumptions dominated the discussions. One factor of a successful negotiation is one of respect, not just for the groups, but for the negotiator that represents the groups. Most participants of the study preferred face- to- face negotiations because they liked talking to each other rather than typing. Also, they liked that they could use non- verbal communication in face- to- face meeting and not misinterpret the meaning of internet communication. The study showed that to improve face- to- face negotiations subjects are advised to agree on a format for negotiation or to take notes on them. To improve internet negotiations are advised to move away from strict data and create their own room to maneuver. Is the research process adequately explained in the study? * Yes the research explains the process of the study and explains each results based on the opinions of the subjects. * * *
References
Van Es, R., French, W., & Stellmaszek, F. (2004). Resolving Conflicts over Ethical Issues: Face-to-face Versus Internet Negotiations. Journal Of Business Ethics, 53(1/2), 165-172.