Electronic mail use is rapidly becoming more commonplace in the business world than a telephone call. The speed, cost, and flexibility of electronic mail have made electronic mail the definitive choice for today’s business communications. McCune (1997) stated, “E-mail, otherwise known as electronic mail, is the latest corporate communications tool” (p. 14).
Employees today are turning more to e-mail than to their telephones and fax machines for communication. This new high-tech form of communication brings a new set of guidelines and potential problems for employees and employers: e-mail etiquette, e-mail overload, and e-mail harassment.
To prevent potential problems, e-mails in the workplace should adhere to business guidelines. One business guideline employees should adhere to limits the number of non-work related e-mail sent and received while at work. Today, many employees receive an overwhelming number of e-mails which can cause e-mail overload. Ingham (2003) explained that “E-mail overload occurs when the number of e-mails being sent and received becomes too difficult to manage, overwhelming the user” (p. 166).
Due to the speed and low overhead of e-mail communications, e-mailing has become the preferred method of communication for most businesses.
Most work-related e-mails are short business-related notes, memos, and reminders to and from coworkers which are easily managed. However, when employees start e-mailing coworkers personal notes they can distract from their coworkers work at hand. Personal employee e-mails are time-consuming to respond to and read. Many employees also share humorous and chain e-mails with coworkers. Humorous and chain e-mails only add to the number of e-mails in an employees’ inbox. Beyond business-related e-mails, employees receive e-mails from friends and family.
The Term Paper on Business Communication 22
... Most businesses today have electronic address because e-mail provides cheap and rapid communication. Since the mid-1990s electronic commerce ... in our life. Business communication is very important for every businessman, because communication with business partners, employees, clients is the ... is sometimes necessary to add some detailed information related to the reference, in a subsequent paragraph. ...
These personal matters also distract an employee from work related matters. Employees who use their work e-mail addresses for personal matters also often receive unsolicited spam mail. To avoid e-mail overload, employees should strive to minimize the number of personal e-mails they compose and accept at their work address. By limiting themselves to work related matters employees can avoid e-mail overload and be more productive with their work time.
Another business guideline for employees is to follow appropriate etiquette rules in business e-mail communications. Understanding the rules of business e-mail etiquette is rapidly becoming an unstated required skill for employees. E-mail is the latest trend in corporate communication tools (McCune, 1997).
Employees who use e-mail for communication must understand that they are representing the company for which they work. Every e-mail communication sent by an employee reflects back on the company.
If an e-mail is poorly worded or composed, the e-mail will reflect negatively on the business. McCune (1997) has pointed out some of the basic business e-mail etiquette rules: knowing when to use e-mails, keeping e-mails short, being businesslike, and responding quickly. Employees who send concise e-mails are more productive. Interoffice e-mails can expedite communications and response times only when they are free from irrelevant information.
McCune (1997) explained how interoffice e-mails should be sent following the form of a memo versus a lengthier personal letter. Quick responses to e-mails enable employees to complete tasks in a more efficient time frame. Overall, employees are more productive and professional when they follow basic business e-mail etiquette rules. The most important business guideline employees should follow is strict adherence to workplace harassment rules within e-mail communications. In today’s technology-driven world, employees and employers face an ever greater risk of harassment lawsuits. According to Sipior and Ward (1999) the use of e-mail reduces situational context cues and can alter accepted conventions in business communications.
The Business plan on Optus Mobile Communication
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In the 1990s, the Australian telecommunications industry has undertaken one of the most dramatic changes in its history. For the very first time, Australians are no longer forced to contend with Telstra s monopoly in telecommunication services. With the deregulation of the industry in 1992 and again in 1997, the Australian Government has allowed new and experienced international ...
Lacking situational context cues, the text-based environment of e-mail provides a greater potential for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Although unintentional, these miscommunication’s can cause an e-mail recipient to interpret information as harassment. An even greater problem, intentional harassment in e-mail, occurs for several reasons. One reason is e-mails are commonly viewed as an informal means of communication.
Sipior and Ward (1999) wrote the ephemeral nature of e-mail “results in reduced commitment to what is communicated and a greater sense of freedom in expression and self-disclosure” (p. 88).
The common misconception that business e-mails are an informal means of communication allows for a greater detachment from ethical actions and feelings of responsibility. Another reason intentional harassment occurs is an e-mail author often feels that the use of profanity and discriminating terms in e-mails will not cause harm; this misconception can find an employee in court for harassment.
By employees adhering to business guidelines that discouraging harassment, they protect themselves from accusations and lawsuits. E-mail overload, improper e-mail etiquette, and harassment via e-mail are among some of the greatest issues faced by employees in the workplace today. As e-mail communication use continues its rapid growth, a greater responsibility to address these issues is being born. Ultimately, employers and employees who choose to use e-mail for company communications should accept the responsibility and adhere to business guidelines. References Ingham, J. (2003).
E-mail overload in the UK workplace. As lib Proceedings, 55 (3) 166-180, Retrieved October 15, 2004, from Pro Quest database. McCune, J. C. (April 1997).
E-mail etiquette.
Management Review, 86 (4), 14-15. Retrieved October 15, 2004, from InfoTrac One File database. Sipior, J. C. & Ward, B. T.
The Essay on The Great Game Of Business
The Great Game of Business By Jack Stack" I am often asked to say exactly what the Great Game of Business is. I have to admit I find this hard to do. It is not a system. It is not a methodology. It is not a philosophy, or an attitude, or a set of techniques. It is all of those things and more. It is a whole different way of running a company and thinking of how a company should be run." Business ...
(1999).
The dark side of employee e-mail. Association for Computing Machinery, Communications of the ACM, 42 (7), 88-95. Retrieved October 15, 2004, from Pro Quest database.
