DIFFUSION OF E-MAIL - AN ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING PERSPECTIVE

Current research has gone beyond technical aspects to consider the soc ial effects of E-mail on organisations. This paper follows the trend b y considering organisational learning aspects. In particular, the pape r explores the way in which organisation members learn to exploit E-ma il for political manipulation. The paper is based on a case study whic h describes the introduction of E-mail to a university community. The case study demonstrates that despite heavy investment in the project, initial enthusiasm, and top management support, some employees chose t o use E-mail to stage a rebellion against top management. This was eve ntually followed by management curtailing users' access to E-mail. The discussion focuses on how organisational learning concepts can explai n the case events, concluding with theoretical and practical implicati ons.