The use of electronic mail has increased in organizations and other areas where computers are used. Researchers report that there are some major effects on the organization and organizational members in group and interpersonal communication. An extensive literature review examined the technology used in computer networks, electronic mail and message systems, effects on the organization, and members of organizations. A study examined some of the differences between computer mediated communication and non computer mediated communication. Subjects, college students and users of three bulletin board services, responded to a single-question survey, either electronically or on paper. Responses were analyzed using a writing analyst computer program (Grammatik III). The computer mediated group did score higher on all the tests for readability, etc. Results indicated that there were some differences between the two types of communication, but further study is needed to clearly establish what those differences are. Implications for teachers of technical writing may be that more on line writing skills need to be developed in writing courses. (Two tables of data are included, and 28 references are attached.) (Author/SR)