These beautiful and intelligent people wrote

• 

  Kevin RubinReply

  December 4, 2011 at 9:17 pm

  Sounds kind of crazy…

  “only 10 percent of the 200 messages employees receive per day are useful”

  Unfortunately, that doesn’t mention how valuable those 10% just might be…

  I’ve long used emails in my career and I’ve used instant messaging and they’re appropriate for different uses. I couldn’t imagine using instant messaging to send detailed technical content to coworkers.

  In fact, I don’t have to imagine, I’ve tried, it sucks. Nothing like IM’ing lines of code and getting interruptions between some of them “r u there? 1 mor q 4 u…” And then lots of questions unrelated to the answers I’m trying to send because they’re coming in faster than I can send good replies…

  Actually, except for “Can I bum a ride tonight?” and “Tea break?” and “We’re trying to call you, but just get a busy signal, can you check your phone?” sorts of things, I hate IM…

  • 

    AxoniteReply

    December 5, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    …And the CEO has apparently sent 0% of the useful 10%. Of course, that could be because he just has nothing to say! It doesn’t say he’s planning to use whatever system they replace email with, either.

• 

  AnvilReply

  December 5, 2011 at 1:38 pm

  Are you spying on my workplace? ;-D

• 

  SeamusReply

  December 5, 2011 at 5:16 pm

  GM uses a mix….They have an IM system for quick short messages or questions on something, but we still use email for the bulk of getting something important to someone…

  I can’t imagine just using IM and I think this company in France is just a wee bit nuts on where they think things are moving to.

  • 

    Kevin RubinReply

    December 6, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    I thought of a way to improve instant message communications so it can be more effective and less confusing for good information…

• 

  Jim OuradaReply

  December 5, 2011 at 9:34 pm

  Maybe I’m a curmudgeon, but I pretty much immediately turn off the instant message function, as soon as my system boots.