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Managing Research Projects

Managing Research Projects

Mailing Lists

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Mailing lists (or distribution lists) are most useful for conveying information to the project team or other groups of people associated with the project, although they can also be used to solicit views of list members.  Mailing lists are easy to use as, once they are set up, one email address can be used to reach many list members.  However, there are disadvantages too:

  • It is easy for list members to become inundated with irrelevant information
  • If an out-of-office auto-response is used by anyone on the list, it can cause a 'loop'.
  • There is a tendency for users to hit 'reply' which can result in members of the list being sent personal email.
  • Users may still tend to use separate emails addresses.

 

If you are setting up a mailing list for the project, the following guidelines may be helpful:

  • Check first to make sure that members of the project wish to have a list set up for them. 
  • Remind users to use the mailing list rather than individual emails.


communication systems