Today in the news paper MINT, a syndicated column appeared on people tendency to use e-mail rather than phone for communication, though it is convenient to speak rather than type. Few months back, our boss also commented that, now-a-days, we are using e-mail more than the phone.
At workplace, I feel e-mail is more convenient to convey information to a group though it is easy to speak directly or over phone with limited number of persons. Moreover, e-mail is a written document which can serve as a proof of communication. Nobody can say that he/she did not received the mail. In case, e-mail ID is typed wrongly, then the sender will be at fault, else the receiver has to accept. If the mail ID is non-existent, then failure notice will appear in the sender's inbox. Verbal communication is like writing on the water.
Apart from communication to bulk, e-mail is also helpful to convey tough messages, or to those whom we do not want to talk but we have to communicate.
It is easy to organize the mails sent into different folders and can be retrieved easily with search words, whereas we have to spend more time in filing and tracing. We can also copy e-mails in portable storage media and use wherever required.
However, direct communication helps to convey what we want, remove any misunderstanding and help in improving relations. Urgent issues also have to be communicated directly. Sending e-mail in these cases will not ensure immediate attention of the receiver whether he is available near his computer or not.
At the same time, if we have to talk to nut cases (stupids), we have to use all our energy and time unsuccessfully and go home with disturbed mind.
Finally use of phone or e-mail depends on the importance of the issue, audience, time and our energy levels.