There is an interesting in the THES today which states that, "Email culture kills interaction between campus colleagues".
Do you agree?
The article starts:- "V-cs in 'state of denial' about quality of internal communications, survey reveals. John Gill reports
An overbearing "email culture" and a shortage of staffrooms and areas where people can meet and chat are being blamed for hindering internal communications in universities.
In addition, communications directors consider academic managers to be much weaker at communicating with staff than their counterparts in purely administrative roles.
The initial findings of a sector-wide research project led by the University of Leicester also suggest that the views of vice-chancellors on internal communications strategies are often far removed from those of the people employed to oversee those strategies".
5 comments:
The THES have used a rather inflammatory headline for what is a very measured report. The full report, which is the result of a HEFCE-funded research project into internal communications in UK universities,can be viewed at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/advice-information/helix/Helix%20brochure%202008.pdf/view. As the report clearly indicates, email overload is not a problem confined to universities - we all live and work in environments overloaded with information. Email per se is not the issue - it is the way we use (or misuse) it. What we need to achieve is much more targeted and segmented communications so that people receive information that is relevant to them - online channels, used judiciously, are one of the key ways we can do this.
I have to say I don't really agree with this article's main premise. I agree that sometimes people don't read all the emails they get but I don't believe that failing to read emails is an excuse for not knowing something important. We can't after all claim we didn't read the gas bill can we!
I also think that Web2.0 technologies have a good place in keeping people in touch and encouraging interaction. I am certainly up-to-date with far more people using Web2.0 than I would be if I continually had to read emails from them all! UCISA has has done some interesting experiments with Wikis and Social Networking sites as means of communicating during and after conferences.
I think the most important thing with communication is to make sure
communication is appearing in places where people are likely to see it. There is a reason we put notice boards in kitchens, tearooms etc. and the electronic equivalent, putting notices on Webmail/online banking login screens etc. Theses are places people go regularly.
I see email as the backstop rather than as the most effective way of drawing people's attention.
Yes you are correct Tony Brett, I am agree with you.
Jyotika
Post a Comment