Instant Messaging in the Workplace

Once the purview of teenagers staying up late into the night to converse with their friends, instant messaging has found its way into the workplace. Like e-mail, the fax and the telephone, instant messaging is hailed by supporters as bringing better communication to the workplace, and criticized by detractors as being disruptive and encouraging employees to engage in personal activities on company time. Also like previous communications devices, the truth is probably somewhere between those two extremes. This research considers the implementation of instant messaging in the workplace, and its affect on workplace efficiency.

Instant messaging allows typed communication from one computer to another in real-time. Most often used by two individuals, it is also possible to invite others into the conversation. Because the communication takes place in real time, users must be aware of who else is online at any point in time; this takes place through the use of "buddy lists" that track the online presence--or absence--of users. It is also possible to set up away m

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Approximate Word count = 766
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page)

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