The impact of e-conferencing applications on business travel decision making: a qualitative enquiry

Beldona, ShrikanthBusiness travel has been steadily decreasing for several years in the United States. Meanwhile, the adoption of e-conferencing technology has dramatically increased since 2007. Although the decline in travel has been largely attributed to economic factors, the role and impact of e-conferencing on business travel has never been investigated in either the trade press or academic literature. Based on a literature review, four major econferencing formats were identified—audio conferencing, web conferencing, video conferencing, and total virtual conferencing. This study explored the impact of econferencing on business travel decision-making. A qualitative, multiple-case study approach using a set of six interviewees from different sectors of industry was deployed. One managerial level person from each firm was interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Interviews were transcribed and subsequently analyzed using Atlas.ti. Grounded theory and the narrative research method were applied in the data analysis process. In terms of the use of e-conferencing, three major themes were identified from the transcripts, namely Usage, Cost, and Interaction. Both positive and negative attributes under each theme were discussed. The findings illustrated that the positive attributes of econferencing, such as ease of use and cost efficiency, drive people to adopt it. The economic downturn as well as budget cuts have forced corporations to switch to virtual alternatives to business travel. In addition, when it comes to choosing a conferencing format, different types of meetings had different needs, based on the purpose of each meeting. The category of industry and the individual’s work function were also important determinants in selecting conferencing format. In the short term, especially in an economic downturn, e-conferencing can substitute for business travel. However, in the long term, e-conferencing will serve as a complement to business travel. The results of this study will benefit e-conferencing solution/service providers, e-conferencing users, and academics.University of Delaware, Department of Hospitality Information ManagementM.S