Simultaneous Versus Sequential Modes of Communication in an Organization

46 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2011

See all articles by Anthony M. Marino

Anthony M. Marino

University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business

Date Written: March 4, 2011

Abstract

This paper studies an organizational knowledge sharing process which requires costly "teaching" and "learning" efforts on the part of the sender and receiver, respectively. The process is a team problem in which the principal rewards successful communication by optimally rewarding performance. In this setting we compare two modes of communication with regard to efficiency. The first is sequential in which the sender pre-commits to teaching and the receiver acts as a follower. The second is simultaneous where each agent simultaneously exerts effort. A key result is that the sequential mode dominates when teaching and learning are complements, but the simultaneous mode dominates if teaching and learning are substitutes.

Keywords: Modes of Communication

JEL Classification: L5

Suggested Citation

Marino, Anthony M., Simultaneous Versus Sequential Modes of Communication in an Organization (March 4, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1777187 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1777187

Anthony M. Marino (Contact Author)

University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business ( email )

Dept. of Finance & Business Economics
Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States
213-740-6525 (Phone)
213-740-6650 (Fax)

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