Ecommunication Skills

1
E-communication Skills

• College of Business
• Iowa State University

Some material in this presentation adapted from
J. B. Walther, M. Boos, K. J. Jonas, Misattributi
on and attributional redirection in distributed
virtual groups, proceedings of the 35th Annual
Hawaii International Conference on System
Sciences, 7-10 Jan. 2002. Rensselaer HICSS
Polytech. Inst., Troy, NY, USA.
2
Online collaboration best practices Group

• Include all members on messages

3
Online collaboration best practices Group

• Include all members on messages
• Agree on response parameters/expectations
• Frequent exchanges are better
• Confirm receipt of messages
• Follow discussion threads

4
Online collaboration best practices Group

• Include all members on messages
• Agree on response parameters/expectations
• Frequent exchanges are better
• Confirm receipt of messages
• Follow discussion threads
• Provide feedback to one another

5
Online collaboration best practices Group

• Include all members on messages
• Agree on response parameters/expectations
• Frequent exchanges are better
• Confirm receipt of messages
• Follow discussion threads
• Provide feedback to one another
• Notify the group when working on a problem

6
Online collaboration best practices Group

• Include all members on messages
• Agree on response parameters/expectations
• Frequent exchanges are better
• Confirm receipt of messages
• Follow discussion threads
• Provide feedback to one another
• Notify the group when working on a problem
• Work early, work continuously

7
Online collaboration best practices Individual

• Contribute to the task
• Respond timely
• Respond always
• Write explicitly
• Expectations
• Questions
• Explanations

8
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
9
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Hey team!

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
10
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Hey team!
• I cant finish compiling everyones responses by
  800am tomorrow morning. My dad needs my help in
  Alaska.

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
11
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Need help compiling answers for tomorrow
• I cant finish compiling everyones responses by
  800am tomorrow morning. My dad needs my help in
  Alaska.

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
12
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Focused content

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
13
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Focused content
• Questions
• I am working on number 3 and dont understand the
  COGS calculation. Dont forget to come to my
  birthday celebration on Welch Ave tonight! And
  when you do, please bring an answer to the
  question I asked yesterday. We need to get this
  done!

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
14
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Focused content
• Question on COGS for 3
• I am working on number 3 and dont understand the
  COGS calculation.
• Refer to yesterdays email (but respond in that
  thread).
• Send out separate birthday communication.

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
15
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Focused content
• Solid grammar and spelling
• C U l8er!
• ? ?
• Wht time r we mtg tomorrow? BTW, I finished nos.
  5,6,7,8.

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
16
An effective electronic message has several
components

• Meaningful subject
• Focused content
• Solid grammar and spelling
• Threaded discussion topics

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm
17
More rules to remember

• Always open and close your e-message salutation,
  signature lines
• Be brief but cover all necessary information
• Written, not conversational style
• Check your spelling and fix all errors

Adapted from http//jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-t
ext/e-mail.htm