Business needs to get IM under control, says Symantec

 

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By Matt Whipp

Posted on 8 Dec 2006 at 16:09

There is a cultural impact too, of adopting a managed approach to IM, and thus gaining control of staff communications. Part of the attraction of IM is the very fact that it is often unmonitored, and as a means of communication, informal. Just as email once was.

As businesses roll out increasing methods of controlled communications, people will be looking for alternative methods where they are not subject to such scrutiny: where they can relax. As these communications mechanisms fan out, how will we all cope?

'Maybe we're getting to the point where messaging saturation becomes an issue,' said Doherty. 'I can manage 700 to 1,000 emails a day. I can handle maybe 40 active buddies. I can deal with 20 to 30 voice mails. But beyond that, I need to take control.

'I think the way to do that might be by having an onion skin approach, where I have an "inner circle" of contacts: friends, family, business partners and colleagues, which I will always allow access to me at any time, regardless of whether that access is via messaging, phone or whatever. And so my outer circle of contacts will have to communicate in a more formal manner. It's not necessarily the type, or means, of access. It's the degree of access you give.'