Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 03:16:56 +0100 (BST) From: "[iso-8859-1] Prof. N. Laxman Rao." A few weeks ago ALA LAMA conducted a survey about e-mail, in which they could find differences among countries. While the response has been excellent, in order to make the results significant for as many regions as possible, the IFLA WANTS TO CONDUCT THE survey. for details please read complete mail and also see the same as an attachement thanks laxman rao -------------------------------------------- The following is a copy of the E-Mail Effectiveness Survey that has been distributed to members of ALA LAMA and at the conference “Challenges and Opportunities for Library and Information Professionals in Knowledge Management and the Digital Age” in Chiang Mai Thailand. We look forward to the responses of members of IFLA to help us collect international information. Results of the LAMA survey are available in LA&M (Library Administration & Management) v. 17, no. 2, Spring 2003, pgs 110-111. Please return this to me as an attachment. Mailto:rpagell@emory.edu E-MAIL EFFECTIVENESS SURVEY The following survey looks at ways e-mail usage has evolved in your work settings and what impact this has had on your workday effectiveness. We will use the results of this survey, along with results previously collected, for articles in professional journals. We will preserve the confidentiality of all survey participants. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions based on your present or most recent job. Please use your best estimates Section 1: Demographics 1a. Please check your age category: ____ Less than 30 ____ 30 – 40 ____ 40 – 50 ____ 50 or older 1b.Please check your gender: _ Male ____ Female 2a.In what type of business environment are you working? ____ Corporate or business enterprise ____ Academic ____ Governmental position (non-business) ____ Not-for profit ____ Retired ____ Self-employed ____ Other (Please specify.) 2b.What is your job title? 2c.In what country do you work? ___________ 3.For how many years have you been working in this environment? ______ 4.What is the highest degree you currently hold? ____ PhD or other doctorate level ____ Masters level ____ Bachelors or other undergraduate degree ____ Diploma, Associate or Technical ____ High School ____ Other (Please specify.) Section 2: Basic E-mail Questions 5.For how many years have you been using e-mail? _____ 6.On what type(s) of devices do you check your e-mail? (Please check all that apply.) TYPE Work Home Desktop Computer Laptop / Notebook Computer Handheld device(phone, palm pilot, other) Other (please specify below) 7.What type(s) of connection do you have to your e-mail? (Please check all that apply.) TYPE Work Home Network connection Regular Modem dial-up High Speed DSL Modem High Speed Cable Modem Wireless Other (please specify below) Other: _________________________________ 8.Please estimate the average number of hours you spend on e-mail each day. 1 hour or less Between 1 – 2 hours Between 2 - 3 Between 3 – 4 Between 4 - 5 5 hours or more In the Office At Home Other (please specify below) 9.On an average day, how many new e-mail messages do you receive? _____ Questions 10 – 15 relate to the percentage of your e-mail that fits into each category. 10.Please check the category that best applies to the type of e-mail you receive. (Percentage categories should add up to 100%.) CATEGORY Do Not Receive 0 to 25% >25% to 50% >50% to 75%

75% Professional Personal Junk Other (Please specify below.)

11.What is the source of your e-mail? (Percentage categories should add up to 100%.) Do Not Receive 0 to 25% >25% to 50% >50% to 75% >75% To/From your own work unit (team, department, etc) To/From your organization External to your organization 11a. Please estimate the percentage of your e-mail that is international. _____ 12. What do you do with your e-mail after you have read it? (Percentages could add up to more than 100.) I Do Not Do This 0% to 25% >25% to 50% >50% to 75% >75% Delete Save on e-mail Save on computer or disk Print Forward Other (Please specify below.) 13.On average, how many e-mails do you have in your primary in-box? _____ 14.Do you believe that your e-mail is confidential? _____Yes _____No 15.Viruses delivered via e-mail are a concern. Please check the statements that apply. ____ I have never received an infected e-mail. ____ I have never received an infected e-mail but others in my organization have. ____ I have received infected e-mails (if yes, please note how many times _____) ____ I have sent or forwarded e-mails infected with a virus. Section 3: E-mail usage compared to other communications methods The following questions compare different methods of business communication. (Please check your response.) 16.With which of these methods do you receive the quickest response? ____ E-mail ____ Phone ____ Letter ____ Fax ____ Other Please note the Other here: 17. With which of these methods do you receive the quickest solution to a problem, issue, etc? ____ E-mail ____ Phone ____ Letter ____ Fax ____ Other Please note the Other here: 18. Following are statements about communications preferences for you and your organization. For each statement, please rank your communications preferences from 1=LEAST preferred to 5 =MOST preferred. For example, if the phone is most efficient for you, place a 5 in the box for phone; if fax is least efficient, then place a 1 in the box for fax. E-mail Phone Fax Letter Face-to-Face Other Most efficient for you Most convenient for you Most preferred by you Most used in your organization Most important in your organization Please specify Other(s) _______________. 19. Does your organization have an official e-mail policy? ____ Yes ____ No ____ Not sure Section 4: Applications of E-mail 20. The following statements address uses of your work e-mail. For each statement, please check the box that applies. I use e-mail . . . Does Not Apply Never Seldom Sometimes Often Always To communicate with customers such as answering users’ questions To inform others of new products and services In place of memos To communicate with colleagues in other institutions To send notes with non-work content To schedule meetings To work on projects with colleagues To solve problems /resolve differences To negotiate contracts For job interview situations (as interviewer or interviewee) In place of phone calls Section 5: Advantages and Disadvantages of E-mail 21. Do you agree with the following assessments of the impact of e-mail on costs and communication? (Please check the box that applies for your rating for each statement.) Effect of E-mail Completely Disagree Not Sure Completely Agree Reduces paper handling Reduces overall cost Faster communication Improved communication effectiveness Integration of data communications with records management Section 6: E-Mail Writing Style 22. The following statements refer to possible differences between e-mail and other types of standard writing. (Please check the box that applies for each statement.) Always Sometimes Never I follow standard business writing in my business e-mails. I follow standard personal writing in my personal e-mails. I expect business e-mails that I receive to be of the same quality as business letters. I expect the personal e-mails I receive to be of the same quality as personal letters. Section 7: Comments 23. Please use the following space for any comments about the impact of e-mail on your work or your relationships within your organization that you would be willing to let us share anonymously with the group. We will preserve the confidentiality of all survey participants. Thank you for taking the time to answer this survey. Ruth A. Pagell ,Executive Director Goizueta Business Library Emory University 540 Asbury Circle Atlanta GA 30322 USA mailto:ruth_pagell@bus.emory.edu Deborah Valentine Lecturer, Management Communication Manager, Goizueta Business Writing Center