Deciding who needs to follow up

The animation explains the architecture; no live actions are executed.

The email example in the article shows only part of this route.

Whose turn is it?

• The question behind the inbox

I look for conversations that may need a follow-up.

Mail & thread

• Request, reply and commitment

Incoming and sent messages show who asks for what and when.

Calendar

• What depends on it?

A related appointment can provide a reason to follow up sooner.

Tasks & context

• Commitment, task or correction

A completed task or changed appointment can remove an earlier follow-up need.

Meaning + coverage

• Assess, do not just count

The content and any later confirmation determine the assessment.

My next move

• Probably needs action

A request to me or my own commitment appears open. The source needs to be shown.

With someone else

• Check for a response

I asked someone else to respond. Later messages need checking first.

Complete

• Resolution, no open request

The retrieved exchange supports that the matter is complete.

Still uncertain

• Find the missing evidence

Part of the exchange is missing, so I cannot yet establish who should reply.

Priority + proposal

• Reason, source and next step

A deadline or dependency can determine priority. The result is a proposal.

Connections

• Whose turn is it? → Mail & thread
• Whose turn is it? → Calendar
• Whose turn is it? → Tasks & context
• Mail & thread → Meaning + coverage
• Calendar → Meaning + coverage
• Tasks & context → Meaning + coverage
• Meaning + coverage → My next move
• Meaning + coverage → With someone else
• Meaning + coverage → Complete
• Meaning + coverage → Still uncertain
• My next move → Priority + proposal
• With someone else → Priority + proposal
• Complete → Priority + proposal
• Still uncertain → Priority + proposal

How to read this

1. I look for conversations that may need a follow-up.
2. Incoming and sent messages show who asks for what and when. A related appointment can provide a reason to follow up sooner. A completed task or changed appointment can remove an earlier follow-up need.
3. The content and any later confirmation determine the assessment.
4. A request to me or my own commitment appears open. The source needs to be shown. I asked someone else to respond. Later messages need checking first. The retrieved exchange supports that the matter is complete. Part of the exchange is missing, so I cannot yet establish who should reply.
5. A deadline or dependency can determine priority. The result is a proposal.