IM in the office
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Since it is in sync with the outlook calendar, Ms office communicator is a fantastic tool. We are using this.
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vy a duck? I though pigeons were the fowl of choice for communications....
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It is useful for us as devs because you can also send files and our email strips almost everything useful out of emails.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
people communicate face to face by talking with each other
Was the suggestion popular among fellow geeks?
Nemanja Trifunovic wrote:
Was the suggestion popular among fellow geeks?
It was Rama's sneaky attempt to completely remove any form of communication within the team.
Regards, Nish
My technology blog: voidnish.wordpress.com Part 2 in my WinRT/C++ series : Visual C++ and WinRT/Metro - Databinding Basics
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
We have an internal XMPP/jabber chat server. We can use any chat client that supports xmpp protocol. I don't know if people use IM very much here. I chat more by remote login to a linux machine which has a local IRC chat server. I chat with a couple others who are also remotely logged in to that machine.
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
Our client only allows internal IM (Office Communicator) and no private mails. Because inside data may be very sensitive, these are measures to minimize the risk. I can understand that, but then, it's all about the type of business of the company you work for. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't.
"To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems" - Homer Simpson
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For Java development, IntelliJ includes a feature like this. Pretty nifty for that specific niche, but not for general use. Then there is some open source software called Squiggle[^] and another called IntraMessenger[^]. But definitely check out the Wikipedia entry Comparison of LAN messengers[^].
Narf.
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
Yes, super good thing. A phone call is an interruption, and one against which you have no defense. Someone's depp into a difficult problem to solve, and you call to ask them something. Potentially hours of work wasted. In addition to being more easily ignorable, the IM client lets you set a status so people can see not to interrupt you.
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what is the name of the chat client you use? if you are allowed to tell me of course. We are currently using the Mdaemon chat client but are soon to migrate to exchange server and I need to find a replacement for internal network chatting.
Let's face it, after Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF! Be careful which toes you step on today, they might be connected to the foot that kicks your butt tomorrow. You can't scare me, I have children.
We've been evaluating Livezilla. It's free and open source. Eventually we plan to use it on our website but for now it works as a great internal chat.
don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff!
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
Having worked with and without, I can say that IM can be used to exchange information much faster than walking over to someone's office and interrupting whatever they are doing for what could have been a 10 second IM exchange. That being said, folks need to know when a voice conversation is truly warranted. I feel that those who do not like IM are stuck is the mode of 'everything needs a face-to-face meeting'. Personally, I feel that many times those face to faces can be overkill, unless you work in very small teams...
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
In my small company (of 20 people working behind a screen) we replaced most of short phone calls with IMs. So when we've something short to say, it's easier for us to drop a message on the IM and be sure it will be read even if the other person is not on the keyboard. We also use it to tell "heya pick up the phone!" in case one is busy and not responding to calls. I use "openfire" on the server side, and "pidgin" as IM client. Being also the system administrator of the company, I've written a small C# program that notifies me of system events and monitor the execution of jobs. It's much easier than browsing logs.
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My mum and dad got all my old stuff out of their loft a few months ago to see if it would work for the grandkids. They were having some trouble when I called round so I got it working. Of course the grandkids had long got bored watching me faff about with it and moved outside or into the other room to do something else.
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
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what is the name of the chat client you use? if you are allowed to tell me of course. We are currently using the Mdaemon chat client but are soon to migrate to exchange server and I need to find a replacement for internal network chatting.
Let's face it, after Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF! Be careful which toes you step on today, they might be connected to the foot that kicks your butt tomorrow. You can't scare me, I have children.
If you're migrating to Exchange then you should look at Microsoft Lync. We (global company - 20,000 employees) have it installed on almost every PC and, as every user gets an Outlook account, all users can use it, either for simple chatting, sharing files or online meetings (either presentations or simply sharing desktops to solve a problem). Lync replaced Lotus SameTime when we got rid of Notes.
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We're not allowed to have any unauthorized chat systems, due to SEC requirements that all communications be recorded... So the firm set up a business-oriented, internal-only IM system, which no one on my team uses.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)Microsoft Lync automatically records conversations in an Outlook folder (which gets backed up on the Exchange server). If set up right, that's probably complying with SEC rules.
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I think Lync is Office Communicator's replacement.
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
This is the voice of experience talking.... hamsters are an unreliable delivery method. You really don't want your comments about luddite management landing on the wrong desks. A model railway with steam engines would be great. I would suggest the use of noxious smoke to avoid packet sniffing. As for arguing points: 1) IM reduces the impact of interruptions (increased productivity). You can respond immediately if that suits you but you don't have to stop what you're doing to pick up the phone before it stops ringing and you don't have to fiddle with the phone system to get your messages. 2) IM cuts down on distracting conversations in the office. There is no need for everyone in nearby cubes to have to listen to a conversation that is irrelevant to them. 3) Phones don't allow sending of code snippets and files. A ban on IM would hamstring technical communications. With IM you can still pick up the phone when appropriate and those that don't like IM don't have to use it. 4) IM conversations can be recorded for review later which can save time and avoid follow up phone calls to request the forgotten information. In order to be successful you'll ultimately need to identify and address the concerns that prompted the proposal to do away with IM in the first place.
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We've been using Google Talk in my company to pass information around for a few years now, but it has been suggested that we remove it completely and revert to using the phone. Do you think that's a good thing? Are you allowed to use IM where you work? I need strong arguments against the neo-Luddites!
We did use Microsoft's IM for a while, but people (who did not use IM before) stopped using it, so we went back to the old way, telephone and walk over and chat. Either way, it is a disruption. IM disrupts you immediately, and takes your focus away from your programming task. Telephone disrupts others in the office, but you do not need to answer it. Walkovers (to your office), you can delay for a few minutes, but you will eventually (within a few minutes) need to talk, which disrupts others. Not good if you work in cubicles. Maybe, for others, IM is better. For myself, the other two are better. Then there is email. You will not be interrupted and you can take it when you are ready. No window opening over your work.