Two of Ian's subordinates approached him to resolve a work-related conflict between them. Ian decided upon a solution and framed an e-mail to inform his subordinates. However, one of the subordinates might be offended by Ian's decision. Which of the following is a reason why he should avoid using e-mail to resolve the conflict?
A) E-mail fails to leave a permanent record of communication for later reference.
B) E-mail encourages more people to participate and share their ideas with others.
C) E-mail can hurt feelings, be insensitively worded, or be intentionally hurtful.
D) E-mail can be an ineffective tool for communicating routine messages.
E) E-mail does not allow information to be shared rapidly with large numbers of stakeholders.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

E-mail can be easily misinterpreted and can lack the nuances of in-person communication. As a result, it can lead to hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and unintentional offense. It might be better for Ian to have a face-to-face meeting or a video call with his subordinates where he can better gauge their reactions and provide additional context for his decision.

Two of Ian's Subordinates Approached Him to Resolve a Work-Related