What now? Next steps?

I checked out the built in features on Outlook Web Access (which is the lowest common denominator) and I only see low priority and high priority. If we go with the tag idea, it sounds like we are thinking the following tags would be helpful
*Response Required
*Non-Urgent
I don't think we need to be fearful about recommending these as there is no real requirement to follow the recommendation. To the degree people use the tags will be up to them - the more that do the easier it will become. If the tags are helpful - they will catch on.
I would also like us to consider the protocol of identifying emails that are destined for the receiver only by putting their name in brackets e.g.
subject: Staffing= denotes a general email, subject: Staffing (Bill) or subject:Staffing (MY Council) = indicate specific audiences. What do you think?

Draft - Non-Urgent Email

DRAFT for Discussion
Proposal for the implementation of an
Important, Non-Urgent Email Protocol

Where as:
School administrators receive large volumes of email from staff, SAT, consultants, MECY and parents. The time it takes to properly process this volume of email takes away from other important activities.

Where as:
Unlike phone calls which are always urgent, email can be urgent or not. (not sure if this is necessary...)
Many email messages come from senders who expect a quick reply while many others are simply for information; they are important but not urgent. Administrators value the immediate collaboration and problem solving that email can facilitate. However, the non-urgent email is at times like “noise” that drowns out the urgent email.

Where as:
The Globe and Mail recently reported on research that indicates that “it takes an employee one minute to read and process a new e-mail – send one e-mail out to 300 to 500 people and you’ve just lost the equivalent of one employee’s entire working day.” (The technology-productivity equation, Dec. 8, 2007)

It is proposed that an Important, Non-Urgent Email Protocol be established. We propose that the protocol be the following:

-When sending an email a PTSD sender should consider whether or not the email requires immediate attention (it is urgent) or whether a three day window for the receiver to review the email is sufficient (Important, Non-Urgent).

-If the email is urgent, the email is sent in the usual manner

-If the email is non-urgent (a 3 day window for review is sufficient), the sender includes the following in the subject “3D”. This allows the receiving administrator to automatically file the email for review within 3 days by employing a “rule” which identifies the incoming non-urgent email and moving it from the “in box” to a special folder for later review.

Note:
We recognize that as we move to Share Point it will be possible for bulletin boards to display all non-urgent information, making this protocol only necessary in the short-term.

Examples of Non-Urgent
- rules on the issuing of school permits
- how to get a DVD player cleaned
- council or committee minutes