First Look 2007 Microsoft® Office System

The Changing Way We Work

Over the last two decades, technology has changed everything about the way we work. Twenty-five years ago, connecting with customers meant calling them on the phone, mailing them a letter, or going to their place of business. Today, connecting with customers might mean firing off a quick e-mail message, distributing an electronic newsletter, posting information on the Web, giving a custom presentation via an Internet connection, or—the good old-fashioned way—calling on the phone or showing up on the doorstep with a laptop and a folder tucked under your arm.

Today we have a whole new set of expectations around what we consider “productive and effective” uses of our time:

• Thanks to e-mail, voice mail, and instant messaging, ...