Today's organization has access to communication technologies that would have seemed like science fiction just a few decades ago. From more powerful mobile devices than the first personal computers to the ability to create a team that never physically meets and resides in different parts of the world, the possibilities are vast. The problem for the modern manager, therefore, is not only to understand these underlying technologies and the possibilities they offer, but also to remain aware of the limits of the technology. After all, the goal is to improve the organization's efficiency and performance, not implement the latest shiny new toy. This essay seeks to explore these new computer-based communication technologies, understand their advantages and disadvantages, and then define which communication methods are best suited to the various tasks a manager may face. In this context, communication is defined as “The process by which one person, group, or organization (the sender) transmits some type of information (the message) to another person, group, or organization” (Hannagan & Bennett, 2008, p. 304). “New information technologies” means any means of communication that requires information technology (computers, data networks, etc.) as a communication channel. To decide whether a technology represents an advantage or a disadvantage for an organization, therefore, we must evaluate the technology against the norm, in this case communication methods that do not rely on information technology, such as face-to-face meetings, paper-based communication and the humble telephone. Reading the definition of the word "communication" above, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's a simple process: the sender of the...... middle of the card ......- to face. Journal of Business Communication, 48(1), 54-82. doi: 10.1177/0021943610385656Lo, S. K. (2008). The nonverbal communication functions of emoticons in computer-mediated communication. Cyberpsychology and behavior: The impact of the Internet, multimedia content and virtual reality on behavior and society, 11(5), 595-597. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.0132 Taylor, T. (2011). Video conferencing vs face-to-face conversation: is video suitable for a supportive dialogue? International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 18(7). Thomas, G. F., Zolin, R., & Hartman, J. L. (2009). The central role of communication in developing trust and its effect on employee engagement. Journal of Business Communication, 46(3), 287-310. doi: 10.1177/0021943609333522 Webster, J. (1998). Desktop video conferencing: Experiences from full users, wary users, and non-users. Quarterly MIS (September).