It provides tracking for the recipient, reminding them of due dates and tasks to which they have committed. Outcomes makes Microsoft Outlook much more powerful because e-mails are turned into actions; they are not only tagged differently than the sea of typical information e-mail but there are also two countdown clocks associated with the request and a set of essential fields which make accountability possible. Employees need no longer have the experience of being at the mercy of internal and external people who have not committed and have not taken ownership of the outcome that is needed. By agreeing to succeed, absolute clarity about deadlines along with precise outcomes being described will lead naturally to everyone making realistic and authentic commitments.

If your company uses Microsoft Outlook you need Outcomes. Perhaps like never before, the demands on today's employees are high, as many work not only within their department but also across department boundaries, locally and internationally. Economic factors require employees to work more effectively and efficiently, yet most corporations are still beholden to e-mail systems that have changed little over the past 10 years. Outcomes dramatically increases the effectiveness and efficiency of e-mail. The power of this easily deployed tool creates:

• Ability of the sender to request a deadline and for the recipient to respond to accept, decline, or adjust the requested outcome.
• Integration of Outcomes with the calendar in Microsoft Outlook.
• Web-based and desktop access.
• Compatibility with smartphones, such as the Blackberry®, Treo® and Windows Mobile devices, where individuals can receive and accept Outcomes while away from the office.
• Management reports that provide statistics on response to and completion of assigned outcomes.

Once deployed, Outcomes can highlight management's commitment to a culture of accountability and the importance of alignment and communication that make business processes more efficient and people more productive. In short, Outcomes helps people agree, which leads them to succeed.