How the use of Cc, Bcc, forward, and rewrite in email communication impacts team dynamics.

The present research examined how the use of different email functions impact dynamics between team members. We first illustrate that it is not so uncommon for employees to find out that the Bcc option has been used in email communications at work. Building on this insight, we then demonstrate that senders using the Bcc option are evaluated by recipients as less moral and consequently as less fitting to be the team leader compared to senders who use the Cc option. Interestingly, this effect occurred regardless of whether or not the sender provided a commonly cited reason for Bcc use. Next, we show that deciding to forward an email reveals an equally negative effect on morality perceptions and rated leadership emergence as using the Bcc option. Finally, we illustrate that although participants perceived the act of rewriting an email message as more moral than Bcc usage, rewriting an email message nevertheless produced similar negative consequences for the sender as the use of the Bcc or the forward option on whether or not the sender is considered fit to be team leader. The present findings complement previous research by showing that secretly communicating information through email can negatively impact team dynamics. • We examined how different email functions impact team dynamics. • Recipients perceive the use of Bcc as less moral than the use of Cc. • Bcc users are also seen as less fitting to be team leader than Cc users. • Forwarding and rewriting emails reveals similar negative effects as Bcc use. • Secretly communicating information through email negatively affects the sender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]