Interrelationships and spatiotemporal patterning of unplanned conversations: an examination of frequency, length, type and perceived value

Purpose This paper clarifies how unplanned conversations are operationalized and examines their interrelationships and spatiotemporal patterning at work. It asks (1) how the frequency, length, and perceived value of unplanned conversations relate to one another and (2) how the type and perceived value of unplanned conversations vary by location and day of the week. Design/methodology/approach A multi-method design was used across two organizational sites. Proximity data derived from a custom mobile application were used as proxies for the frequency and length of unplanned conversations; structured observations near workstations supplemented these data, and Qualtrics spot-sampling surveys captured conversation type, location, and perceived value. Analyses were conducted using dyad-level bivariate correlations and conversation-level χ2 tests and two-way ANOVAs. Findings Frequency was negatively associated with mean conversation length, but not with work-related or non-work-related perceived value. Conversation type varied by location, but not by day of the week. Perceived work-related value varied by location, whereas non-work-related value did not vary by location, day of the week, or their interaction. Originality/value The paper demonstrates the centrality of unplanned conversations to organizing processes and explains why methodological choices about operationalization and spatiotemporal data collection matter for theorizing and interpreting them.