Instant Messaging (IM) Literacy in the Workplace

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Beth L. Hewett (Independent Scholar, USA)and Russell J. Hewett (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, USA)
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 18
Source title: Handbook of Research on Virtual Workplaces and the New Nature of Business Practices
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Pavel Zemliansky (James Madison University, USA)and Kirk St.Amant (East Carolina University, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-893-2.ch032

Keywords: Business & Management / Business Science Reference / Human Resources Development / Human Resources Management

Purchase

View Instant Messaging (IM) Literacy in the Workplace on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

This chapter discusses instant messaging (IM) as a valuable digital tool that has influenced business communication practices at least as much as e-mail. It argues that IM’s characteristics of presence awareness, synchronicity, hybridity, and interactivity create a unique set of writing and reading experiences. These functional qualities both require and hone high-level writing and reading skills, which are used powerfully in communicative multitasking. The authors believe that IM should be sanctioned in the workplace and that IM use should be a subject of focused training; to that end, they provide a practical, literacy-based training sequence that can be adapted to various settings.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

Instant Messaging (IM) Literacy in the Workplace

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors