The Impact of E-mail Communication on Organizational Life

E-mail has become a ubiquitous part of everyday life. It has also become something that many people expect to be able to rely on and trust, without any need for further confirmation of whether or not it will help them accomplish anything in their work. As such, e-mail is often the first tool used by companies to communicate with their employees when they want to exchange information or offer communication. 

However, its effectiveness as a means of communication can easily be overrated and sometimes misunderstood. For example, some may see an e-mail notification on their phone as true communication rather than just a notification that the document is ready for viewing at work or school.

Positive impacts are often cited as reasons why email can be so effective in workplace communication. One of the biggest advantages is that it cuts out many of the middlemen and bureaucracy that previously stood between two people who want to communicate, making it a very direct form of communication, an invaluable tool in today’s increasingly faster business climate. E-mail also allows for greater flexibility when communicating; many people can respond to emails sent to them at all times, often not having to devote large amounts of time or attention to the task at hand.

Which of these is the best recommendation for business communicators using e-mail?  While the advantages and benefits of e-mail communication may be clear, the question of which is best often remains unanswered. This paper argues that while email is a good tool for some aspects of communication, its effectiveness as a whole cannot be measured by how it affects a single individual where that individual is not involved in the relation between sender and receiver. By this argument, e-mail communication can actually hurt interpersonal relations if used to communicate among people who are not significant to one another; these communications can take on a form of “chatter”, and damage meaningful relationships without having any other purpose than to communicate information.

The Impact of E-mail Communication on Organizational Life :

1. What is E-mail communication?

E-mail is a series of messages sent from one person (the sender) to another, utilizing the Internet to reach and communicate with other people. Often viewed as a quick and efficient way of communicating, e-mail has become the “go to” tool for those who need to communicate and can afford the cost of sending out an electronic message.

2. What are its effects in the workplace?

E-mails can be used as a form of communication that cuts down on the time and costs associated with traditional forms of correspondence, making it easier for business professionals to interact with each other. The same goes for other professionals, as well as for personal relationships and people who just want to tap into their contacts lists to send out a message. 

E-mail allows a person to respond at any time, giving it an air of increased immediacy and urgency that can be useful when working on certain projects. However, the opposite could also be true; many people have received messages from others where they are pressured to respond as soon as possible, perhaps even when they have no idea regarding the topic of discussion. This can cause miscommunication and a “fear” associated with any response that is not sent back right away; some might choose not to respond at all.

3. What are the negative effects of e-mail?

E-mail is a great tool, but even something as simple as using e-mail can have negative effects on interpersonal relations. Emails sent out that are really just a way to communicate information or ask for someone to assist in completing a task may be seen by some people as unnecessary and annoying, but not always viewed as such. The act of sending an e-mail can actually invite the sender into some other (if not all) aspects of the receiver’s life. 

E-mail can also make it difficult to convey certain emotions; some have found it hard to be “honest” in emails they may send to bosses or other persons who might hold power over them. The pressure of sending an honest message when all one has is the written word, without any tone or body language to help interpret one’s message, can make these kinds of messages seem either a bit cold (some might say “unfriendly”) or too casual.

4. Conclusion:

Many businesses rely on e-mail communication between coworkers and employees, though it is unclear as to what extent this form of communication should replace the other methods of communication already used by those in business and their clients. 

E-mail needs to be used carefully and in the right context, as it can sometimes go beyond what is intended and cause damage to relationships that were never meant to be damaged in the first place. Despite its many benefits, there are certain things that e-mail cannot provide; business professionals need to understand when and how email can actually damage personal relationships.