Introduction
Businesses have been facing the problem of information overload (for example, those in e-mail communications) for over a long period of time now. Information overload is the bulk of information that causes pain, instead of gain, to company’s employees/workers. The problem of information overload is inevitable in any particular organization because information is a very valuable commodity in an economy. The problem is mostly seen today affecting the well being of workers within an organization because the information keeps on bombarding them from ever increasing sources (Edmunds and Morris, 2000). One of the organizations facing such problem is Intel Inc., which has tried to solve the overload problem since 1995.
The proposed solution of solving such type of problem involves the use of technology, which is able to control the flow of messages received (incoming messages) through the e-mail. Specifically, the use of e-mail filtering software provided by Microsoft enables the users to delete unwanted texts automatically. For instance, in Netscape Communicator, the users are able to define their own filter rules that will enhance message deletion when the body or sender of the message has a specified address.
The general benefits of using e-mail filtering software include: First, it will help to increase the productivity of the organization in managing e-mail messages by a greater percentage. Secondly, filtering software will help to reduce employees’ health problems, while on the other hand, increase their job satisfaction. Last, but not least, it will increase employees’ efficiency and effectiveness, as well as concentration and innovation levels. This will enable the organization to realize the general increase in performance as well as the productivity.
I do recommend to the Intel’s management team (which include managers, engineers, as well as other stakeholders) to embrace new technological innovations, such as the e-mail filtering in reducing the information overload.
References
Edmunds, A. and Morris, A. (2000). The problem of information overload in business organizations: a review of the literature. International Journal of Information Management, 20, 17-28. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.203.3150&rep=rep1&type=pdf
