The impact of instant messaging tools on knowledge management and team performance

Abstract

Instant messaging (IM) has become increasingly popular as a form of social communication. However, the adoption of IM in the workplace remains controversial due to the challenges associated with quantifying organizational benefits. In this study, we evaluate the effects of using IM tools on facilitating knowledge transfer and knowledge generation at work, and their subsequent influence on work performance. The proposed model is validated by a survey of work professionals at a small company with the support of a social networking diagram. Implications and conclusions are discussed. © 2011 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.