The Hamster Revolution：How to Manage Your Email Before It Manages You

Writteninparableform,theworkrelatesthestoryofHarold,anHRDirector,whohasfallenvictimtothedreadedclutchesofinfo-glutandfindshimselfparalyzedandunabletomoveforwardbecauseofthedelugeofelectronicdataande-mailthathemustfightdaily.InaKafka-esquetwist,aftersuchrepetitivebutfruitlessexertion,heactuallyturnsintoahamsterrunningonahamsterwheel,thoughhe'stoobusytoevennotice.Haroldmeetstheinfo-coachwhorecognizeshisailmentandteacheshimafeweffectivelessonsaboutmanaginge-mail-keytowhichisdevelopinghigherqualitywhilegettingridofunwantedexcess.TheinfocoachintroducestheCOTAsystemtoHarold,whichshowshimaninnovativewayofstoringalle-mailandelectronicmediaintofourmaincategories:Clients;Output;Teams;and,Administrative.UsingthissystemHaroldisabletocontrolhise-mailcommunicationsanddocumentsagain,andturnsbackfromahamsterintoahumanbeing.ThereisalsothestoryofthegroundbreakingCapitalOnestudybasedonfeedbackandinputfrom2,000CapitalOneemployeeswhoattendedaworkshopbytheauthors.A60-daypost-trainingsurveyfounde-mailqualitytohaveimprovedby52percentwhilee-mailvolumedecreasedby21percent.CapitalOneestimatesthattheparticipantssavedanastounding13daysperyearbecauseofthis.Allinall,thebookprovidesalargeamountoffun,butpoignantinformationthatcanbeusedtoreorganizeemailprocedureintoanefficient,andeffectiveendeavor.