Abstract

Communication between individuals and firms has never been faster or easier thanks to powerful new information technologies such as electronic mail (E-mail). Over the past ten years, the effect of task, channel and demographic variables on e-mail usage within organizations has been extensively studied. Although E-mail offers firms increased control over widely dispersed operations, it also gives employers the keys to unlock a treasure chest of intercompany messages. This ability to monitor employee's electronic correspondence has opened a new chapter in the fight for ethical principles and privacy rights. This paper attempts to broaden the scope of variables used to predict e-mail usage by suggesting that individuals have inherent ethical philosophies and emerging attitudes toward privacy, which play important roles in the selection and use of communication media.

Share

COinS