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Defending RIM Blackberry Against Productivity
Jasksk writes "Is Blackberry causing masses to lose productivity? This article on CoolTechZone.com clears the myth. The author writes, 'Ever since the patent litigation has settled between NTP and RIM, Blackberry has recaptured the headlines, but this time, it's because of the device itself. While numerous users, generally corporate executives, adore the device, the environment surrounding Blackberry isn't too positive. A number of recent reports and columns are portraying Blackberry (and similar solutions) as time wasting, productivity lowering behemoths that don't deserve to exist.'"
The article basically says three things:
.. err .. no, sorry, there were no reasons stated. It just does coz it's ace or something.
1. People use their Blackberrys too much.
2. People don't need to be on call 24/7.
3. People who do use the Blackberrys alot and are on call all day are workoholics.
So there we have it. *Clearly* a Blackberry makes me a more productive worker because
I really hope the author never has cause to defend me on anything.
http://twitter.com/onion2k
And if you thought cell phones caused people to be rude, blackberrys surpass that effect greatly.
They should be totally banned in situations like meetings, or at a grocery.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Blackberry (and Good) Devices are good for productivity - assuming you can prioritize.
1. Some things need to be answered in real time. For Example: Say you oversee Hazardous waste disposal & need to be notified about stuff. (Is it important to move a cleanup team, or is it a soda spill); Say you run a network with automated email for things going wrong. (server down & you need to call the right person)
2. Some things you just want to keep track of while you are out. You can check them in the taxi on the way back to work. (Client has problem X, if it gets big enough you may have to call - otherwise wait untill you are at the office.)
Not to say that the same dorks who IM everyone at work all day won't waste time on a crackberry, but there are whole classes of people (managers & consultants) who need to keep tabs on stuff when they are away from the office.
Personally, I get a lot of business from email referrals. If I wasn't too cheap to pay for the data line on the phone - it would probably help my business expand faster.
$.02 It's mine and I want it back.
First, this is one of the worst written articles I have ever seen. Maybe it was typed on a BlackBerry?
The article says that having a BlackBerry means being on call 24/7, which surely must result in a dip in productivity, and annoy your family and friends. The article concludes by saying that people addicted to their BlackBerry are in the advanced stages of workaholism, and that isn't the tools fault.
I am a BlackBerry user, and I can say, without hesitation, that is is a great tool, and depends completely on how you use it. I used to carry a RIM pager and a phone, and am very happy to now have one device. I love having my outlook calendar available easily. It has helped me avoid missing many meetings. Having the ability to read email is nice, as well as get buzzed for high priority issues. Finally, I like the fact that contacts sync with my desktop, and that I can dial a number on the phone that was sent in an email or meeting request.
One major problem is the default configuration for BlackBerries, which buzzes every time a message is received. This invites users to constantly read messages, and become addicted to instantly replying. I turned that feature off in the first two or three days I had mine, and have been much happier since.
Another issue is that reading lots of text on a small screen can be difficult. Sometimes I have problems getting through an email, only to see it later at my desk, and discover it is much easier to read. But this is a convenience versus readability thing.
In all, the BlackBerry is pretty neat tool. It can help people who use it sensibly, and it can cause workaholics to turn into monsters.
Increased time on the job does not innately translate into increased productivity.
The idea that it does is the single greatest idiocy of the modern business age, producing such braindead corollaries as thinking that saving half a second per mouse click actually means you spend 2 more minutes a day doing productive work.
Human productivity is entirely dependant on human factors, not machine factors, and humans are notoriously variable, even chaotic, in their behavior.
At best they get tired, at worst they have this shit called "feelings."
KFG