Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!osh3!chip
From: chip@osh3.OSHA.GOV (Chip Yamasaki)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Questions about E-Mail for the non-techies
Message-ID: <1991Apr30.160250.14572@osh3.OSHA.GOV>
Date: 30 Apr 91 16:02:50 GMT
Organization: U.S. D.O.L - Occupational Safety & Health Admin.
Lines: 45

We are in the process of setting up a large E-Mail system and the
primary users will be very non-technical people on a couple hundred
Xenix systems throughout the country.

We are going to use UUCP to connect the systems and will use some kind
of RFC822 compliant mail system like MMDF II or sendmail for the MTA and
something like Elm for the UA.

There are several problems we have yet to work out, mostly in the areas
of policy.  Remember that the users here are mostly very naive in the
field of Xenix/Unix and VERY non-technical.

We have a need to respond to mail directed at functional areas of
responsibility rather than actual users.  There are two approaches here.
Set up aliases mapping names for the functional areas to users (as is
often done with Postmaster), or create actual mailboxes or logins for
these areas and have people responsible for checking them.

A manager here says that we should set up mailboxes or logins because
when people move or take vacation (and I know they do) someone will
forget to correct the alias and the mail will go unanswered.

I maintain that if the user, who is not very used to mail in the first
place, does not get a message on the screen saying that mail is there
they will forget to check anyhow.

Which approach is better?

Any responses on this or other concerns that experienced E-Mail
implementers might be able to think of would be very welcome.

Also, if anyone has a "how to" reference, either text or interesting
book, concerning this type of thing I would appreciate it.  I feel
comfortable with the Xenix/Unix mail system and whatnot,  I just don't
know much about what to look out for in the way of E-Mail for the
"technically disadvantaged" *.

---
PS-Technically Disadvantaged is a term from a Netter.  I don't have the
   name of the person who coined this term or I would give proper
   attribution.
-- 
--
Charles "Chip" Yamasaki
chip@oshcomm.osha.gov