What is the most effective way to manage access to a shared email account within a department?

The most effective way to manage access to a shared email account within a department is to configure a Google Group as a collaborative inbox. This option allows multiple users to manage incoming emails effectively. A collaborative inbox is designed specifically for teams to work together on emails, enabling team members to assign conversations, mark them as done, and track who is responsible for certain communications.

This structure not only facilitates better collaboration but also maintains transparency about who is handling each inquiry. It serves as a central point where all department members can interact with emails, ensuring that important messages are not overlooked and that responses can be coordinated more efficiently.

In contrast, configuring a Google Group as an email list is primarily for sending announcements or updates without enabling team collaboration on incoming messages. Delegating email access to department employees can lead to confusion regarding responsibilities and doesn't provide the same level of structure as a collaborative inbox. Setting the group recipient to Announcement Only also limits interactivity and does not support the collaborative needs of shared email management.