EFFECTIVE communication is wonderful and there should be a lot more of it, writes Alan Calvert.

Unfortunately, the whizzy new world of e-mails and mobile phones does not always produce the results it should.

I have heard various stories about business people returning from a fortnight's holiday to find hundreds of e-mails on their computers and numerous voice mail messages on their telephone systems.

First days back in the office are increasingly becoming a nightmare.

In the olden days somebody else would have dealt with the letters, telephone calls and -- how quaint! -- personal visits.

There is a presumption in the modern business environment that everybody can be contacted instantly because we have the technology. Not so.

One morning last month, I received a press release telling me about a company with a Bolton outlet which had gone into receivership.

In order to talk to the press officer concerned I rang the number given and found myself accessing a voice mail message delivered at break-neck speed against background traffic noise.

It informed me that I could leave a message or ring her on her mobile telephone.

The number was an enormous challenge to my hearing and I listened to it five times before making a series of fruitless attempts to make the right connection.

Eventually I rang her office and asked to speak to one of her colleagues. I was put through to an extension and found myself confronted once more with a voice mail message to say that this person WAS in the office, but away from her desk. Did I want to leave a message?

This I did and 10 minutes or so later we were chatting about my urgent problems involving deadlines. She did not know the proper mobile telephone number, but would ring me back.

This she did as promptly as could be expected and I rang in hope, only to find another recording -- asking if I wanted to leave a message. It is at times like this that you pine for the days of pigeons or the cleft-sticks for dispatches mentioned as essential equipment in Evelyn Waugh's newspaper satire, Scoop.

There was no way I was going to leave another message and it took another three desperate attempts before the lady in question answered her telephone.

This exercise in instant communication took well over an hour from start to finish.

Perhaps I was just unlucky -- on other occasions mobile telephones and e-mails have saved me a great deal of time and effort.

All this is trivial stuff in the great scheme of things, but I think there is a serious point here.

Electronic wizardry does not work efficiently without efficient human beings.

As information overload stretches into all corners of business life, managements need to be aware that these wonderful gizmos are tools to be used effectively rather than as an all-purpose solution in themselves.

Moving on to a different topic, my heart goes out to everybody who has to fill company newsletters and magazines on a regular basis.

Spare a particular thought for the diligent person who produces Hall Fire News on behalf of Hall Fire Protection Ltd in Swinton.

Copies go to employees, customers, suppliers and friends.

The front page message contains the line: "We aim to provide two editions per year and naturally our policy is one of continuous improvement, so please let us know what you think or provide news for the next edition of interesting sprinkler stories."

There is a £50 inducement so to do, but it sounds quite a challenge to me.

ALAN CALVERT