Using Communication Channels for Boundary Management

Abstract

The spread of communication devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops goes along with an increasing availability of various communication channels (e.g., instant messaging, phone calls, short message services). Users can communicate across the traditional borders of their life domains (e.g., get a private phone call while at work). Boundary Management deals with the demarcation and transitions between those different life domains. In this work, we investigate if and how individuals use different communication channels to support their individual boundary management style. Our results show that the boundary management style has little influence on the use of communication channels.