A Qualitative Study of Communication Overload in Remote Collaboration
Keywords:
communication overload, remote collaboration, digital fatigue, qualitative research, virtual teamsAbstract
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences, causes, and consequences of communication overload among professionals engaged in remote collaboration. This qualitative research employed a phenomenological design to investigate how individuals experience communication overload in remote work environments. Twenty-one participants from Tehran with a minimum of six months of remote collaboration experience were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic content analysis with NVivo software. Theoretical saturation was achieved by the twenty-first interview, and a systematic coding process was applied to extract meaningful units, subcategories, and overarching themes. Analysis revealed four main categories: cognitive and emotional consequences, communication structure and flow, coping and adaptation strategies, and organizational and technological factors. Participants reported experiencing mental fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and reduced job satisfaction as outcomes of communication overload. Structural issues such as fragmented message flows, unclear norms, and excessive synchronous communication were frequently cited. Coping mechanisms included selective engagement, boundary-setting, and customization of tools. Organizational factors such as lack of communication policy, poor platform integration, and digital surveillance further intensified overload. The findings align with prior research emphasizing the psychological toll of unregulated digital communication and the need for human-centered virtual collaboration strategies. Communication overload in remote collaboration is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by individual, structural, and organizational dynamics. Addressing it requires clear communication policies, streamlined tool integration, and a shift toward empathetic digital work design. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of remote work sustainability and offer practical insights for organizational leaders and digital platform developers.
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