Employers long have viewed instant messaging with a wary eye. Because it started as a tool primarily for personal use, the technology was slow to make its way into the workplace. Much like mobile phone text-messaging of today, IM had many detractors, who insisted that the tool created just another way for employees to waste work time on personal conversations. That myth is being dismantled, thanks in part to research that shows that instant messaging can indeed increase the productivity of workers.
June 10th 2008