» Study: Instant Messaging Improves Productivity
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In an interesting qualification of views on workplace interruptions I cited previously, new findings published by Ohio State/UCal Irvine researchers suggest IM positively impacts productivity. The reason?
“IM provides a means of obtaining task-relevant information rapidly and with minimal disruption, allowing a worker to ask clarifying questions without the expectation of engaging in a longer conversation. Alternatively, it can be used to participate in a sustained form of low-intensity collaboration…”
It eliminates many uncertainties of probing availability by phone (where your coworkers aren’t within earshot) while remaining more synchronous than emails. What a happy coincidence for slackers.