Differentiate the roles of face-to-face encounters and collaborative interfaces. Explain the limitations and benefits of each type of communication.

What will be an ideal response?

For face-to-face encounters, there are still benefits to the human-human interface to gain attention, increase understanding, and to influence decision making that falls short in a collaborative environment. Experts in organizational psychology often state the initial meetings need to be face-to-face when possible, with follow-up easily accomplished over teleconferenced and other collaborative means. However, this author has also done this in reverse, where one can establish a terrific work relationship over electronic means (phone calls, file sharing, emails, etc.) later meeting face-to-face to reach a conclusion. The ideal answer is a combination of both.

In our complex, inter-dependent economies in a global business climate necessitate face-to-face encounters combined with collaborative interfaces and social media environments.