Using Instant Messengers In Office

[The_Big_K]

The instant messengers have been one of the greatly admired applications on the Internet.

IMs are a great way to communicate in real time. However, some of the corporations block the access to IMs.

What do you think? Should usage of Instant Messenger be allowed in offices?

[kedarjk]

Its a good thing, I don't think there is any disadvantage of using IMs.
So I think IMs should be allowed or rather encouraged to use IMs in offices.

[gohm]

If the office is using IM for inter office communications then fine, otherwise they can prohibit usage as they see fit. Quite frankly with cell, e-mail and voicemail I'm busy enough with communications at work to need yet another form.

[kidakaka]

Usage IM in place of inter-office memos, and one liner mails is perfect. A lot of companies use this, in fact is a must for a virtual office setup. You can see the SameTime application in all the big firms, IBM, HP, Infosys, et al.

[ash]

Well.. the limit should be intranet IM. Even that, you'd might start chatting with a co worker friend at any time as you would during a lunch break.

So much for productivity

If you want to encourage the use of IMs to have a synergy of information sharing for the sake of work, you'd have to educate the personnel on how to use it properly (and not abuse it).