Rlchard Pettlnger

‘‘All-staffers’’

‘‘All staff’’ e-mails are a nuisance (if not a primary stressor) especially when the receivers have plenty of other things to do, because they have to be read before it is apparent whether they have any direct value or priority.

Problems are reinforced in large, complex corporations when it is known, believed or perceived that ‘‘all-staffers’’ are being sent out either to justify someone’s existence, or as a realpolitik marketing exercise (see Summary box 4.2).

SUMMARY BOX 4.2: INFORMATION OVERLOAD

One of the UK’s top universities created an information systems division. This was funded partly from central government. In addition, it received a foundation grant and subsidized hardware and software. Consisting of 20 staff, it was to be paid for on a continuing basis by ‘‘top slicing’’ – a levy on each of the academic teaching and research departments of the university.

This caused initial resentment among heads of faculty and departments because it was widely believed that the university had created the division because it felt that it ought to have one, rather than because there was a known and understood operational demand.

This perception was reinforced when, after three months of operations, it became apparent that the new information systems division was producing 98% of ‘‘all-staffers’’ and 21% of all e-mails. Shortly afterwards, the information systems division had its remit extended to cover security and internal hardware and software purchasing and management. This caused extensive disruption to existing administrative functions and purchasing procedures, all of which were clearly known and understood. The impression left was that this was an expensive exercise that had to be paid for out of primary activities – teaching and research – and that, rather

32 STRESS MANAGEMENT