To email or not to email: Michael Dell

In a memo to Dell Inc. employees days after returning as chief executive officer, Michael Dell said the beleaguered computer maker is quashing bonuses for 2006 and reducing managers to help cut costs and steer the company back toward dominance.The e-mail sent Friday also revealed that Dell will not hire a chief operating officer, will push faster product development and will expand into new business to drive revenue growth.

In the e-mail, Dell wrote that the company ended its fiscal year Friday with “great efforts, but not great results.”

“This is disappointing, and it is unacceptable,” wrote Dell, who went on to say that he plans to remain CEO for the next several years. (EastOregonian.com)

Possible assignment questions: Is email the appropriate channel to deliver this type of information? What is the message embedded in the choice of using email rather than other available channels? Explain.