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January 2015
 
 

Letter from the President: By Matt Wainwright

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From phone calls, to faxes, to emails ... what will be the "next big thing" when it comes to workplace communication? Many companies, mainly startups, have cut the cord from email. Some have done so successfully. Some people will hold on, of course. However, I applaud this movement as email, to me, is simply an inefficient method of communication in the workplace today. I have been waiting with extreme anticipation for stronger replacement platforms, which are beginning to surface. 

In email's beginning, around 1980 or so, I thought Prodigy (not the band, the email) was cool. Prodigy dial-up service gave people the ability to browse around Prodigy-specific content, on Prodigy-specific "bulletin boards." Because that's what they were – a place where you could post real or trivial items for a small minority of others who had access to Prodigy to see. Trouble was, this model just wasn't sustainable, especially with AOL jumping in with both feet. "You've got mail" became integrated into our lexicon. It also became a movie. Not that I’ve seen it!

While AOL kept pushing forward and we entered the early to mid 1990s, businesses started craving email – it became a requirement, a necessity. Lengthy phone calls were replaced with a few exchanges of emails. Conversations were now documented and accessible for reference. But older generations did what you'd expect and called email impersonal. It is impersonal. Interpreting tone or tact in an email is often misinterpreted. Like, "Matt, did you get dressed in the dark this morning?" And maybe it was dark when I got dressed, I'm a little color blind anyway! Regardless of opinions, the workplace became dependent on this new and faster method of communicating.

So since we all have to manage email for large enterprises, it only makes sense we keep utilizing email, until more efficient platforms become available. Email will be in the minority some day soon though. What will be its replacement? How will we manage communications most efficiently and effectively for our enterprises? Whether you agree or don't agree, please weigh in on the topic of email by joining GMIS International for the premiere of GMIS Live! on January 22 at 1 p.m. EST/12 p.m. CST.

GMIS Live! is a new way to take the spotlight, share ideas and trade war stories with your peers. We've had an overwhelming response in signups already - get registered, and get ready to get live ... GMIS Live!
 
 

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