The question of what replaces multi-person email

November 6, 2007 Posted by Matt Lambert | Filed Under Communications 

I caught sight of a post by chip griffin, arguing that the stuff he saw at the defrag conference – which seems to be a collaboration technology show – wasn’t compelling enough to replace email.

Email is simple and ubiquitous, so why replace it.

I think that’s a contentious point – and probably purposefully so. These bloggers eh, always stirring the pot. As if I didn’t come across his missive through RSS.

But Chip looks from the point of view of a user – and I happen to agree with that point. Complicated isn’t good.

My own view is that email is great when it’s one to one, and when the extent of the interaction is easily defined. Question – Answer – Done.

But Email can go horribly wrong where there are multiple parties, or where an ongoing conversation is required.

So – what problems are there with email? Here’s a few I can think of, feel free to suggest more.

  1. Where can I look to see progress around a topic that involves a few of us – where can anyone look to see progress? I know….lets send another email and ask.
  2. Email is fraught with the following problem: If I email you with a  question about the project and you haven’t responded – who’s responsibility is it that the action didn’t get done? It’s mine of course….but email blurs the lines and makes it difficult. “He didn’t get back to me” is something you hear over and over
  3. Email hides what is important, and gives you what is urgent (your newest emails) instead.
  4. If someone joins the conversation late, where can they look to get up to speed

Have I missed anything?

In short, I don’t think the email problem is actually a myth, but just what we do about it isn’t exactly clear. I thought it was going to be SharePoint – but from what I read, the jury is still out there too.

There are no shortage of new innovative companies looking at the issue. Anything topic based catches the eye. From that acquisition of Parlano, perhaps Microsoft still think there is more work to be done around collaboration too.

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