Social media and communication processes at work : Evidence from China

Web 2.0 applications, such as instant messengers and other social media platforms, are fast becoming ubiquitous at work, yet their impact on performance is poorly understood. We investigate these impacts in the Chinese workplace, analyzing data from 179 organizational employees. We find that vertical and horizontal communication contribute significantly to individual, team and organizational performance, with high levels of variance explained. We provide empirical evidence for how Web 2.0 enables organizations to reach out to collaborators and business partners, thereby boosting individual productivity, team collaboration and organizational agility. We discuss the implications of the research for scholars and practicing managers, also identifying future research directions.