Instant messaging cuts workplace interruption.

• Position: Science & Technology - Brief article

Employers seeking to decrease interruptions may want to have their workers use instant messaging software, suggests a study by Ohio State University, Columbus, which challenges the widespread belief that instant messaging leads to an increase in disruption. Some researchers have speculated that workers would use instant messaging in addition to the phone and e-mail, leading to reduced productivity. Instead, research shows that it often is used as a substitute for other, more disruptive forms of communication, such as the telephone, e-mail, and face-to-face conversations.

Utilizing instant messaging led to more conversations on the computer, but the conversations were briefer, points out R. Kelly Garrett, study co-author and assistant professor of communication. The key to unlocking the...