How to Beat Information Overload, Nathan Zeldes , IEEE Spectrum (Oct 2009)
Some commenters found this article was overload.
However there are some figures that might startle and some points about what some companies are doing to control email that will surprise.
+ Intel "assessed the loss [of time] due to unnecessary e-mails and unproductive interruptions at 8 hours a week".
+ "Information workers typically receive 50 to 200 work-related e-mails daily. Surveys at Intel showed that people spend some 20 hours a week processing work-related e-mail messages, of which about a third are unnecessary. Processing this third took workers about 2 hours a week."
Solutions? Probably no good ones - but the author has some suggestions drawn from Intel
+ guidelines on e-mail management
+ time management training
+ controls on amount of email
+ setting aside no-interrupt time
+ tools for classifying and handling email
The Information Overload Research Group is about reducing information pollution.
Posted by Gwen at October 2, 2009 09:24 PM