In class we’ve learned that an innovation can be an improvement upon or a change in a certain product or process. Essentially, there are innovative ways in expand upon what is already available making those pre-existing products and processes more valuable. I came across an article on Instant Messaging (IM) in the workplace, which challenged my view on how the technology is currently used.
A study conducted by researchers at Ohio State found that IM may actually be less disruptive to the daily business operation than other forms of communication like telephone, email and face to face conversations. The study showed that employees use Instant Messaging strategically to find out the availability of their co-workers in lieu of causing a distraction by visiting personally.
I believe instant messaging to be a viable tool for office use. When considering the number of times that people could randomly “drop by your office”, thus distracting your work, instant messaging seems to be a lesser distraction. Ohio State Communication Professor R. Kelly Garrett, who co-authored the study, suggests that while “instant messaging led to more conversation on the computer, the conversations were briefer”. Often, a co-worker may want a short answer, for which instant messaging would be ideal.
The idea of using IM in the office sounds like the perfect way to communicate without delay and also a viable way to decrease inbox clutter. However, given the current reputation of instant messages as a tool for social communication only, do you think this innovation will be accepted in the average workplace? Can you foresee any major problems? In my opinion, the current stigma of IM as being a social outlet will slow its implementation into routine business activity. However, if companies can look past the stigma, IM could become a tool to save time and increase productivity.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603120251.htm
I really like this idea of rebranding IM software and believe that it could really work. In my communication with classmates for group projects I often find that using IM software is much more efficient than face to face meetings. I wonder if creating company specific IM software that pairs with an e-mail systems(i.e. how google mail currently works) would alleviate some of the tension surround IM as a social communication device.
ReplyDeleteI work at a record label in Nashville and most people in the office use IM. They use if if they need quick answers, to find out what people are working on, etc. Overall, I think it makes the workday more efficient, as people are not constantly running around to meet with people face to face over small things. They can instead do this via IM and continue to work on whatever they have been working on without the disruption of face to face meetings.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have been arguing this with my bosses for years. The time it takes to step outside and take a phone call is drastically more disruptive than sitting at your desk answering little "blips" on your computer screen. Plus, our generation can multi-task better than any generation before, so being productive at work and chatting on IM does not pose a problem. At least in my eyes. Some future bosses are sure to disagree.
ReplyDeleteI agree that instant messaging could be a very effective tool for fast, short communication. However, it is important to remember that it can easily become over-used or abused. For example, I interned at an office last summer that had rows of cubicles inside a large open room. The cubicle walls were only about 4 feet high, and there were only 16 of them. The employees would IM each other all day long, almost never standing up to speak face-to-face, which was very easy. In this instance, I think instant messaging was overused, as it decreased real employee interaction and office morale.
ReplyDeleteWhere I used to work we used Outlook Messenger. It definitely saved time for us, because we were not stopping by people's offices and then getting distracted. Our firm was global so it was an incredible way to talk with our colleagues in other offices. We would have ongoing conversations about the project we were working on instead of calling each other every two minutes. Another feature that was enormously helpful was being able to communicate with multiple people about a project, as you are working on it, without going through the hassle of setting up a conference call. Overall, the IM system allowed for us to communicate much more effectively as a department.
ReplyDeleteMy husband uses an IM program called Sametime at work. He and his coworkers are on it all day, and while it allows them to instantaneously collaborate on cases and things like that, it also sometimes results in misunderstandings that wouldn't happen if you could hear inflection or see facial expression. Of course, I suppose it doesn't help that no one on his team has ever actually met in person, since they all work remotely...
ReplyDeleteI personally would love to use IM at work.
Now, I work far from the main office location. IM can be so useful! Sometime I found frustrating - or even disruptive - trying to reach my colleagues - or viceversa - by telephone or e-mail...
ReplyDeleteBesides the possibility of over-use or misunderstandings that have been described, a possible problem is that your collaborators might assume that you are always at your desk, when it might be possible that a meeting or another activity has to be done far from your PC, contributing to a different kind of misunderstandings.
I strongly agree that instant messaging can decrease office interruptions. Instead of spending the time to write and email or go to a co-worker's desk, I can just IM him or her and get an answer right away.
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