“Shouting straight into space”: enablers and barriers of voicing in digital meetings
Ella Holster, Maja Nikolic, Mats HeidePurpose
The aim of this article is to develop new and deeper insights into coworker voicing in digital meetings by examining coworkers' experiences and perceptions as well as digital dynamics, this research provides a deeper, contextual understanding of the communicative dynamics in digital organizational settings. From this aim, we have formulated the following research questions: “How is coworker voicing shaped in digital meetings?” and “How do they experience voicing in this context?”
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in social constructionist epistemology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with coworkers from a single case organization to explore experiences within a shared context. The organization, a leading international company with over 200,000 employees worldwide, was selected as the case. Purposive sampling ensured the inclusion of participants relevant to the research focus. Ethical considerations included obtaining informed consent and safeguarding the confidentiality of both participants and the organization.
Findings
Our analysis shows that digital and hybrid meetings reshape not only how coworkers express their voice but also who speaks and to what extent. Platform affordances, such as camera functions regulating visibility and structured turn-taking via hand-raising tools, act simultaneously as enablers and barriers to participation. Furthermore, perceived psychological safety varies considerably in digital settings, influenced by practical constraints like larger group sizes.
Originality/value
Most existing research adopts a quantitative, functionalist perspective, emphasizing how coworker voice contributes to organizational efficiency and outcomes. In contrast, this qualitative study provides a nuanced, context-sensitive understanding of communication dynamics in digital environments, specifically examining who speaks up, how, when and under what conditions.