You are the Communications Manager for an international organisation with offices located in Sydney, Tokyo, Boston, Paris and Dubai. The company is introducing standardised e-mail software (Microsoft Outlook Express) for all offices. Your manager would like you to develop appropriate e-mail protocol (standards), etiquette and ethical guidelines.
             E-MAIL PROTOCOL (STANDARDS), ETIQUETTE AND ETHICAL GUIDELINES
             The e-mail use charter is to develop a company wide policy on e-mail use for management and employees throughout the worldwide offices. The starting point is the legal aspect. There are legal, moral and security issues to be considered. The company needs to formulate an acceptable balance between privacy laws and security of information within the computer network of the company. On top of the privacy and security issues the company needs to have in place an acceptable code of conduct and behaviour standard to be adhered to by management and employees.
             In looking at how there may be the introduction of an office wide e-mail program there are many aspects that need to be considered. The practical implementation may be developed in terms of the way it will be installed and how individuals will be trained to use it. The offices that it is being introduced into are spread throughout the world , with locations such as Sydney, Tokyo, Boston, Paris and Dubai. There will be various issues that need to be considered and understood in drawing up a range of standards, etiquette and general good practice for the way in which it will be used.
             The starting point needs to be a legal starting point. There are several risk factors that e-mail provides. We need to look at both employment law and the law relating to the Internet and e-mails. There are commercial risks, internal risks as well as the risks of negative publicity if there is a breach of national or local legislation.
             The first issue is that of privacy. There is little in the wa...