[Sigia-l] email management (not completely on topic)

[Karl Fast]

> I recently read the email management report by Mark Hurst
> (http://www.goodexperience.com/reports/e-mail/)& have been pondering it.

I haven't read this, but I have read some stuff from the academic
literature about how people use email.

Here's a summary of what research has found (some of this goes back
almost two decades). At the end I've linked to a good, readable
paper with references to key studies.

 - Email is like a habitat for many people, not an application. It's
   a place where people live (I live there, do you?)

 - People use email in diverse ways. More importantly, there is no
   one best way to use email (I suspect this contradicts what Hurst
   has to say). There are different email usage styles and what
   works for a person depends on various factors. Analogy: not
   everyone needs an organized desk to be productive, some people
   thrive with a messy desk. Email is similar.
   
 - Email is "seriously overloaded." It is used for far more than
   just communication. Other tasks include (there is overlap here):
      - task management
      - task delegation
      - time management
      - archiving
      - collaboration      

  - One study grouped users into "archivers" and "prioritizers."
    Archivers save things and try to miss nothing. Prioritizers want
    to minimize contact with their email application.

  - Another study grouped users into "no filers," "frequent filers,"
    and "spring cleaners." These groupings are based on how people
    handled their inbox (I am a frequent filer, but most people I
    know are the other types).

Microsoft Research has a good paper about this. The first few pages
nicely summarizes prior research findings. It also includes
citations to the major studies (most of which are readable).

Supporting Email Workflow
  Microsoft Technical Report, December 2001 (MSR-TR-2001-88)
  http://research.microsoft.com/research/ coet/Email/TRs/01-88.pdf

    
--karl