I wrote an email today at work - no surprises here. Its a 100+ word email that really needed 15 words to get the main message across.
The next thing I did once I completed this was to check out my new twits and everything I read was less than 160 characters but told me everything I needed to know. From new blog posts to dinner pictures from complaining about work to constructive discussions about work - everything was recorded in less than 160 characters. What a beauty.
That set me thinking is there a place for Twitter type software within the organisation? I would say yes absolutely. I think there are so many people who write long emails and lose the whole context of the email within those words. (I am guilty too!). However, with only 160 characters, you get the main message across effectively and the reader saves alot of time reading the formalities and explanation. So I thought Twitter has a place in the organisation!
Few hours later, I was sitting with a colleague discussing something and my twitter bell went off and my client was interested to know what it was. I explained to him what twitter was. He (Gen-Y) then thought it was really cool and I asked if he would use it in the office? His reply was - “Aren’t there enough work coming in from emails? Now you want Twitter? You must be crazy”
So do you think there is a place for Twitter within the organisation?
2 responses so far ↓
1 paul li // Jun 17, 2008 at 8:15 pm
As you know I am a little against emails myself too… the last thing I want is to have things clogging up my email inbox.
When I get back from say a long holiday, the very first thing that I do is to clean up the clogged inbox.
I simply just love twitter
160 characters is more than enough to communicate my needs, if there is a need to further elaborate, i generally just include a tiny url or something similar…
2 Sean Lew // Jun 17, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I do think twitter type application would be perfect in the organisation. The cultural shift will be critical for it success. As you said, 160 characters and add a URL if needed - this is a great way to do things.
However, information overload is something all knowledge workers would experience - whether it is through email or twitter… thats something we can run but can’t hide from.
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