The Social Impacts of Electronic Mail in Organizations: A case study of electronic power games using communication genres

This paper investigates the effects of the introduction of electronic mail on organizational structure and power. It provides empirical support to the view that technology, organizational context, and individual actors interact to shape the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and their effect on organizations. Through an analysis of power games reflected in the progressive constitution of electronic mail genres, it illustrates in particular how the specific organizational configurations in which technology is deployed deeply influence its ultimate use. Far from transforming an organization, it appears that the introduction of electronic communication tools may in certain circumstances help reinforce an organization's preexisting structure.     

Developing the scale of presidential candidate's dialogic communication (PCDC) during the 2017 presidential campaign in South Korea

This study aims to develop and validate a measure of presidential candidates’ dialogic communication (PCDC) in political public relations. We conceptualized the construct of PCDC with two dialogic dimensions, voicing and listening, from the relational perspective. Through the scale development process, we conducted an online survey of 1,195 Korean participants during the Korean presidential campaign in February 2017. The results showed that the proposed two-dimensional PCDC scale with 12 items was statistically reliable and valid. The findings also revealed that voicing and listening were significantly associated with publics’ intention to support or oppose a candidate and their supportive or critical communication behavior regarding the candidate. Theoretical and strategic implications are further discussed.     

The role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and internal CSR communication in predicting employee engagement: Perspectives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

This study examined relationships among employees’ perception of CSR, three models of internal CSR communication and employee engagement. The findings, based on 516 valid survey responses from employees across different sectors in the United Arab Emirates, revealed that internal communication of CSR, both one-way and two-way symmetrical, predicted employee perceptions of CSR, with two-way asymmetrical communication being a negative predictor; perceptions of CSR predicted employee engagement; social and sustainable dimensions of CSR most strongly predicted social and affective dimensions of employee engagement; and both two-way symmetrical communication of CSR and employee perceptions of CSR strongly predicted employee engagement. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.     

Low total testosterone is associated with increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in men: results from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)

Objective.?There is increasing evidence suggesting that low total testosterone concentration is associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between total testosterone and incident T2DM in a large population-based cohort.

Methods.?Of 2117 men at baseline, 1589 were followed up 5 years later. Low total testosterone concentration at baseline determined by <10th percentile (10-year age-strata) were used as a risk factor for incident T2DM at follow-up. To evaluate for potential non-response bias, drop out weights were used in sensitivity analysis.

Results.?From 1339 men eligible for analyses, 68 (5.1%) developed T2DM. Men with low total testosterone concentration had an increased risk of developing T2DM (odds ratio [OR] 3.4, 95% CI 1.9–6.1), even after adjustment for age, waist circumference and smoking, OR 3.0; (95% CI 1.6–5.7). Recalculated weighted models revealed almost identical estimates indicating no relevant non-response bias.

Discussion.?Our prospective findings suggest that low total testosterone concentration is associated with incident T2DM in men and might represent a biomarker that might causally be involved in the risk of T2DM. This underlines the importance of measuring total testosterone in men as the predominant male sex hormone.