AOL Instant Messenger

Instant Messenger Businesses are indeed going far in terms of tools and utilities that they use. Especially in terms of communication, it seems that the communication barriers we had before, such as distant locations, is no longer a problem nowadays. Thanks to what technology is providing us, for it has revolutionized the way people communicate with each other. One of the communication trends in businesses these days is the use of instant messenger. Instant messenger is an online utility where people from different locations can communicate with each other real-time.

Communication in an instant messenger can be in text or in voice mode. There are many kinds of instant messaging software. Some examples of which that are commonly used by businesses are Yahoo Messenger, American Online, and MSN Messenger. The use of instant messaging in work environment is rapidly growing. However, as with any element of technology, issues surround its adaptation in the work place.

Some considers instant messengers as effective tool in the workplace, while others are skeptical considering it to decrease the work performance of employees because it can be a tool for gossips in the workplace as well as it can lead to chronic complaining among employees. So, the question is "Will instance messenger services increase or decrease efficiency in the workplace?." believe that the status as to whether instant messengers can increase or decrease efficiency in the workplace depends on how a work environment utilizes this technology.

Instant messengers can present both advantages and disadvantages. If they will be used in the workplace for business purposes, instant messengers can present advantages because it is an additional form of communication to the current modes that we have. A little use of instant messengers for personal use should not harm the business operation in a work place. However, using it excessively for activities that can decrease the work performance of an employee, such as gossiping, is indeed a disadvantage to the workplace efficiency.

The potential of instant messaging as an element to increase efficiency in a workplace can be seen in how it allows employees to communicate with each other instantly. For instance, companies with various business units around the globe can communicate with each other, real-time, and work together via instant messaging. Instant messaging allows employees from distant locations to work together as if they were in the same place. This is made possible by real-time voice and text communication that most instant messaging software can provide.

This feature of instant messaging is one important factor that increases efficiency in a workplace because it eliminates communication barriers. Employees who work on a project, and who are located in different places, can now work together successfully with the help of instant messaging. Aside from this benefit, instant messaging also extends the advantages and gains to a company in other aspects of its operation such as eliminating the cost of long distance calls and minimizing the need for inter-company business travels.

Kevin Vanderberg of Navitaire, states the following, confirming the efficiency that instant messaging provides them. We work with people in Ireland, the Philippines, and various locations around the U.S. everyday. I don't know how we'd get anything done without instant messaging." (Hoffman, 2004). Robyn Greenspan, in his online article Workplace IM Showing Growth, discussed that instant messaging is now being used by a large percentage of the workforce. Greenspan indicated the following findings of Lenhart.

Instant messagers who use IM at work report that it is a tool for greater productivity in the workplace. Sixty-eight percent of workplace IMers say that while IM is a mixed blessing, it is mostly a positive thing in their work lives. Fifty percent of work IMers say it saves 'some' or 'a lot' of time, and very few find it distracting," Further, from AOL's study, it was revealed that 71% of their survey attest that the use of instant messengers provide positive outcomes to their work (Greenspan, 2004).

On the contrary, some companies oppose the use of instant messengers at their workplace. This is due to the reason that some employees may use it for personal activities and may lead to a decrease in their productivity (Francois, 2004). However, as indicated by Francois,.