Information on Loughborough

The virtual watercooler email cliques?

Posted on 24/06/09
University of Leicester

New research at the University of Leicester is examining the impact of email cliques the equivalent of people who gather around the office watercooler, though this time in the virtual world.

The study in the Centre for Labour Market Studies explores the somewhat unknown virtual watercooler. Comparing email cliques to the stereotype group around the watercooler, David Freke explores the phenomenon.

The groups that gather around the office watercooler for a chat is a well-known organisational phenomenon, as is the suspicion engendered in those who are not insiders in these groups.

Insiders and outsiders in organisational groups participate in complex webs of relationships, and for the most part people know where they fit in. Email, however, offers the potential for the development of groupings that are invisible to everyone except those on the inside.

Postgraduate David Freke explores this email virtual watercooler phenomenon through a deep ethnographic research technique that uses email to create the kind of group of participants insiders that is the subject of his research. By this method participants can report their experiences reflexively, raising issues that are of importance to them.

From my research, some startling findings emerge that have profound implications for organisations self-image and their professed values and culture.

For example, an organisation that through its professed values claims to respect and include every individual can, through its email cliques, appear to be more concerned with excluding anyone who is perceived to be a threat, or appears to be different.

Anyone who is concerned with organisational values and culture should be concerned about the groups that form within their organisations internal cyberspace. In that shadowy world, something will be going on.

David Freke will be presenting his research at the Festival of Postgraduate Research which is taking place on Thursday 25th June in the Belvoir Suite, Charles Wilson Building, University of Leicester between 11.30am and 1pm. This event is open to the public and is FREE to attend.

Latest News

Launceston Road junction improvements begin

Leicestershire,Loughborough

Highways, Transportation & Waste Management20 November 2009Launceston Road junction improvements beginWork on a new road layout to ease traffic congestion is starting at a key junction in Wigston next week. The £60,000 improvements to the junction of Station Road and Launceston Road include a new mini roundabout and an extension to the on-pavement cycle lane.... 21 Nov 2009 Launceston Road junction improvements begin

Accident-reducing road improvements in Hinckley

Leicestershire,Loughborough

Highways, Transportation & Waste Management20 November 2009Accident-reducing road improvements in HinckleyWork is starting on the second phase of a £110,000 road improvement scheme to reduce accidents along a key route in Hinckley. The work on Dodwells Road and Normandy Way, which is being carried out by Leicestershire County Council, is due to start on Monday.... 21 Nov 2009 Accident-reducing road improvements in Hinckley

Seven schools receive £16 million revamp

Leicestershire,Loughborough

20 November 2009Seven schools receive. .... 21 Nov 2009 Seven schools receive £16 million revamp

Interactive event to challenge views on museum culture

Latest News

University of Leicester PhD organise 'Materiality and Intangibility: Contested Zones', an event for researchers and artists working with museums... 20 Nov 2009 Interactive event to challenge views on museum culture

An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke

Latest News

10th Man to walk on the moon to lecture at the University of Leicester in a filled-to-capacity public event... 20 Nov 2009 An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke

Related News

New study on biethnicity in the workplace

News

University of Leicester research highlights how Barack Obama has inspired mixed race workers to achieve... 17 Mar 2009 New study on biethnicity in the workplace

New research examines 425 million year old 'Pompeii' - in Herefordshire

News

University of Leicester research examines preservation of fossils which is unlike anywhere else in the world... 01 Jun 2009 New research examines 425 million year old 'Pompeii' - in Herefordshire

Research highlights impact of migration on Irish workplace

News

An evaluation of the challenges facing Irish organisations in the management of their multicultural workforces in terms of training and development.... 24 Jul 2009 Research highlights impact of migration on Irish workplace

New study focuses on Indian women in a consumer culture

News

Doctoral research by management student to be presented at University of Leicester on 25 June at 11.30am-1pm... 03 Jun 2009 New study focuses on Indian women in a consumer culture

Loughborough academic puts spotlight on pro-anorexia in cyberspace

Loughborough University,Loughborough

Loughborough academic puts spotlight on pro-anorexia in cyberspace In the same month British MPs have called for social networking websites to do more to monitor pro-anorexia groups a Loughborough University academic has published a book that investigates the subject in depth. The Medicalization of Cyberspace, co-written by Loughborough s Dr Emma Rich and Andy Miah of the University of the West of Scotland, is the first ever book to explore the relationship between digital culture and medical sociology and investigate the culture of pro-anorexia groups on the internet.... 27 Dec 2008 Loughborough academic puts spotlight on pro-anorexia in cyberspace

Relevant News

Take Over Day At University

Loughborough University Council Chamber

Should Loughborough University s iconic Towers building be knocked down? Should there be more or less parking on campus? Or the Library become solely a virtual, online facility? These and other issues were discussed by around 30 local school pupils, when they become Loughborough University s decision makers on Friday 23 November, as part of the first national 11 Million Take Over Day initiative. ... 23 Nov 2007 Take Over Day At University

Loughborough academic puts spotlight on pro-anorexia in cyberspace

scales

In the same month British MPs have called for social networking websites to do more to monitor pro-anorexia groups a Loughborough University academic has published a book that investigates the subject in depth.... 06 Mar 2008 Loughborough academic puts spotlight on pro-anorexia in cyberspace

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER FORENSIC RESEARCH CENTRE JOINS WITH POLICE IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

police

A collaboration between the University of Leicester Forensic Research Centre and the Northamptonshire Police Scientific Support Unit, which has already produced some ground-breaking results, is to be formally launched on 14th May.... 16 Apr 2008 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER FORENSIC RESEARCH CENTRE JOINS WITH POLICE IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

Face to Face or Facebook?

facebook

Can online networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, help new students settle into university social and academic life and minimise the chance of them withdrawing from their courses? Researchers at the University of Leicester are now looking for first-year University of Leicester students who use Facebook to help their pioneering research into this issue. They should not be too difficult to recruit.... 12 May 2008 Face to Face or Facebook?

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON?

heart

State-of-the-art molecular technology to map genetic patterns in healthy young men with a strong family history of heart attacks... 17 Jun 2008 LIKE FATHER LIKE SON?

Most Read News (today)

Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

graffiti

A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... 18 Jul 2008 Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools

chess pieces and board

Andy Reed MP today announced the giving away of chess sets to schools. The chess sets are available for schools as part of a scheme to provide a quarter of a million chess sets into the school network. Negotiations with manufacturers and distributors means that ten sets and boards can be offered to every school in England. ... 13 Feb 2008 Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools

Robot in Loughborough Town Centre

robot

Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites.... 27 May 2008 Robot in Loughborough Town Centre

Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

police officer

14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places.... 02 Jul 2008 Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

Seven schools receive £16 million revamp

Leicestershire,Loughborough

20 November 2009Seven schools receive. .... 21 Nov 2009 Seven schools receive £16 million revamp

Most Read News (this month)

Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology survey

Leicestershire,Loughborough

Community Services29 October 2009Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology surveyLeicestershire County Council today held a press conference at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre to announce the conclusion of a groundbreaking three year archaeological survey to locate the battle of Bosworth, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Battlefields Trust archaeologist, Glenn Foard, revealed an exciting collection of finds from the Battle of Bosworth of international archaeological significance.... 30 Oct 2009 Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology survey

Loughborough Fair

News

The popular, annual Charnwood Borough Council-organised event will open at 6pm on Wednesday, November 11th and run until Saturday, November 14th 2009.... 03 Nov 2009 Loughborough Fair

Police searching for missing man have found a body

police,constabulary,leicestershire police

Police searching for missing man have found a bodyPolice searching for a 77 year old man from Loughborough, who has been missing since yesterday evening, have found the body of a man. Ernest Sanham from Park Road in Loughborough, was admitted to the Leicester General Hospital on Thursday 22nd October 2009 suffering from confusion.... 26 Oct 2009 Police searching for missing man have found a body

Loughborough shoppers to benefit from Bonfire Night Advice

News

Information about being safe on Bonfire Night will be available for shoppers who visit Loughborough town centre on Wednesday.... 03 Nov 2009 Loughborough shoppers to benefit from Bonfire Night Advice

GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY RAISES TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR CHARITY

News

Street children in the third world and some of the most endangered animals on the planet are set to benefit from generous visitors the Great Central Railway. The award winning Leicestershire heritage line teamed up with two charities to raise money at special gala events.... 26 Oct 2009 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY RAISES TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR CHARITY

Most Read News (alltime)

Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

graffiti

A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... 18 Jul 2008 Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools

chess pieces and board

Andy Reed MP today announced the giving away of chess sets to schools. The chess sets are available for schools as part of a scheme to provide a quarter of a million chess sets into the school network. Negotiations with manufacturers and distributors means that ten sets and boards can be offered to every school in England. ... 13 Feb 2008 Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools

Robot in Loughborough Town Centre

robot

Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites.... 27 May 2008 Robot in Loughborough Town Centre

Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

police officer

14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places.... 02 Jul 2008 Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire

social care

Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week. The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July).... 22 Jul 2008 Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire