8.3 Document for Analysis: Direct Request
To: ExEngine Manager List
From: Paula Parker <paula.parker@exengine.com>
Subject: Answering Questions to Address E-Mail Problem
Cc:
Bcc:
Managers,
Please help us address the problem of excessive e-mail by answering the questions below. Your ideas will
assist us develop a plan that should benefit your staff, yourself, and our organization.
Everyone expected e-mail to be a huge productivity tool. However, its excessive use cuts into work time.
One study found that the average office worker spends two hours a day on e-mail. In our organization we
may be spending even more than this. It’s difficult to get any work done because of countless e-mails
every day. Your responses to the following questions will help us focus on the problem.
1. About how many e-mail messages do you receive and answer personally each day?
2. About how many hours are your staff members spending on e-mail each day?
3. How could we reduce the volume of e-mail within our own organization?
4. Do you think that e-mail is being used excessively by our employees?
5. What do you think of a weekly e-mail-free day, such as Friday?
I look forward to your advice in controlling e-mail and improving productivity. Your written responses to
these questions by May 5 will help me prepare for our supervisory committee meeting May 10, when we
will discuss this problem. Many thanks!
Paula Parker
Vice President, Operations