Abstract

This study characterized the utilization of an electronic mail system in a computer-oriented industrial R & D organization. It is necessary to know how electronic mail is used before possible relationships between use of electronic mail and important individual and/or organizational outcomes can be investigated successfully. The study involved (1 distribution of a questionnaire on use of the electronic mail system, and (2 collection of a sample of communications sent via electronic mail by managerial, technical, professional, and support personnel. Results showed that: (1 electronic mail was positively regarded and frequently used by employees, (2 that negative organizational effects predicted by previous researchers were not present, and (3) that electronic mail was used primarily for administrative tasks in support of R & D rather than for communication of direct research information. Further research should investigate differences in organizational purpose, structure and culture, and difference in implementation of electronic mail that affect the use of electronic mail and its organizational impacts.


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smith_bizot_hill_1088.pdf