Communication in Transactive Memory Systems: A Review and Multidimensional Network Perspective

Bei Yan, Andrea B. Hollingshead, Kristen S. Alexander, Ignacio Cruz, Sonia Jawaid Shaikh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The comprehensive review synthesizes 64 empirical studies on communication and transactive memory systems (TMS). The results reveal that (a) a TMS forms through communication about expertise; (b) as a TMS develops, communication to allocate information and coordinate retrieval increases, promoting information exchange; and (c) groups update their TMS through communicative learning. However, direct interpersonal communication is not necessary for TMS development or utilization. Nor do high-quality information-sharing processes always occur within developed TMS structures. For future research, we propose a multidimensional network approach to TMS that incorporates technologies, addresses member characteristics, considers multiple communication types, and situates groups in context.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-32
Number of pages30
JournalSmall Group Research
Volume52
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • group cognition
  • group communication
  • group learning
  • knowledge networks
  • social networks
  • team cognition
  • team networks
  • transactive memory

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