A study of the uses of instant messaging in the government offices a case of the macau government offices

Abstract

In recent decades, the pervasiveness of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has changed the communication patterns of the majority of the Internet users. This phenomenon is further intensified by the popularity of instant messaging (IM) chat. IM-chat has not only impacted on personal social communication, but also has significantly changed the way organizations communicate internally and externally. This study aims at examining the impact of three personal level factors on workplace IM uses and the associated communication satisfaction. Our findings reveal that habit and boundary crossover have positive impact on workplace IM uses and communication inhibition has a positive influence on the relationship between workplace IM uses and the associated communication satisfaction. Based on our findings, implications for research and practices are discussed.