Communication Processes and Electronic Communication: A Framework for the Assessment

In this paper it is argued that the assessment of Electronic Communication (ElCom) requires the modelisation of the disinct communication processes that may occur between individuals and organisations. With this purpose, some theoretical references are first explored for the possible modelisation of communication, and in particular: studies of knowledge transfer between individuals and organisations; theories of communication based on linguistic research; and recent organisation studies of communication processes. Some key elements are drawn from those different fields in oder to build an assessment framework for ElCom technologies. It is then discussed that, since a universal tool is far from being available, each communication process is associated with a particular kind of ElCom application differing in scope, functions, and technical specifications. The fluorishing of a wide range of technologies would thus fit the variety of existing communication needs