Is less human contact with online contracting a plus or a minus? Does having human contact when conducting bu

Question

Is less human contact with online contracting a plus or a minus? Does having human contact when conducting business matter to you? Why/why not?

Answer 1

MINUS, it is destroying peoples' social skills.

Answer 2

A lot depends on the type of business.

A lot of international trade is run by email, instead of the telephone, with a small number of larger clients arriving in person.

In reality, information technology gives us choices. We can opt for more or less face-to-face contact. In many ways this can be a big advantage, because of effeciency and flexibility.

On the other hand, without seeing people regularly many smaller issues can be missed. However, in companies where people always see each other, the exact same problem can occur (for example, a school I worked would never pass information on to part-time teachers excluding them from the team and creating a large number of problems. I was even told off for answering their questions). That school collapsed.

With the online world, we have to be aware of the issues of communication and make the effort to be sure full frank information is available. Some online workers use tools like MSN and Yahoo messenger to stay in regular contact with other peeople, actually increasing the level of communication availble.

I would suggest that for major contracts meeting in person is essential and valuable on at least a few occasions, no matter how expensive or time consuming this might be.

Answer 3

In this type of site it is a minus. People are rude and mean to people because they do not have to interact with them or know what they look like. People treat others better IF the person you are talking to is interested in what you're saying and smiling. Since we are looking at a computer screen some people take that as a "frown" I guess and attack others.

Answer 4

I am old school. I believe in face to face. The internet is great for commodities.