Analysis of Workplace Instant Messaging

A recent study of workplace instant messaging at AT&T logged thousands of workplace IM conversations and evaluated their conversational characteristics and functions. Contrary to previous research, the study found that the primary use of workplace IM was for complex work discussions. Only 28% of conversations were simple, single-purpose interactions and only 31% were about scheduling or coordination. Moreover, people did not find IM inadequate for their tasks and rarely switched from IM to another medium when the conversation got complex.

[Source: IT Director]