TOWARD A VIRTUAL POLITICKING MODEL

Virtual politicking is the use of email to support organizational poli tics. Surprisingly, despite the proliferation of email, its role in en abling political maneuvering is just starting to be acknowledged by ma nagers and information systems practitioners. The Virtual Politicking Model detailed in this article synthesizes data from a series of real- life incidents in which email was used for political manipulation with in and between organizations. The discussion illustrates the impact th at email can have on life at work, alerting managers and practitioners to both its promise and its dangers.