Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!voa3!ck
From: ck@voa3.UUCP (Chris Kern)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Low Productivity of Knowledge Workers
Summary: Overcoming Fear of Mailing
Message-ID: <293@voa3.UUCP>
Date: 23 Sep 89 16:56:38 GMT
References: <9676@venera.isi.edu> <189@crucible.UUCP> <291@voa3.UUCP> <7765@microsoft.UUCP> <425@crdos1.crd.ge.COM> <5978@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM>
Reply-To: ck@voa3.UUCP (Chris Kern)
Organization: Voice of America, Washington, D.C.
Lines: 36

In article <5978@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM> toma@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy)
writes:
> ... But what do you do about computer-phobes that refuse to read their
>email on a regular basis (or at all) ...

Find people fairly senior in each target group who are receptive to using
office automation.  Those with personal computers at home are often good
candidates.  Explain, in organizational terms (avoid gee whizzery), what
you think the benefits of electronic mail will be.  Offer them workstations.
Give them an opportunity to discover for themselves how easily they can
acquire new information through the use of this informal medium.  Their
peers will notice that your candidates have better information than they do.
Their subordinates will want an opportunity to communicate with them
electronically.

Sit back and watch the fun.  The doubters will be persuaded -- for
bureaucratic-political, if not intellectual reasons.  It doesn't take long.
We reached "critical mass" in a couple of months.  After that, there was
no going back.  Not all our users can articulate the benefits they derive
from electornic mail, but we have a strong consensus that it is essential
to the management and daily operations of the organization.

By the way, be prepared to offer special assistance to those who really
are afraid to use computers.  Individual training often is a necessity for
these users because what really frightens them is the prospect of fumbling
while they are learning and consequently looking foolish to their colleagues
or subordinates.  It often is important to train managers before you train
their subordinates.  It is also important to restrain the natural tendency
that many implementors have to show off all the nifty features of their
systems.  Figure out what really is important to your new users.  Teach them
to use those features only.  Once they are comfortable using the technology,
they will pick up new tricks on their own.  And teach you a few, too.

-- 
Chris Kern			     Voice of America, Washington, D.C.
...uunet!voa3!ck					+1 202-485-7020