Comments on: Blackberry, the productivity killer http://www.webconsultingdc.com/2008/blackberry-the-productivity-killer/ It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:07:09 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kurtlar Vadisi Filistin http://www.webconsultingdc.com/2008/blackberry-the-productivity-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-3008 Kurtlar Vadisi Filistin Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:17:21 +0000 http://www.webconsultingdc.com/?p=211#comment-3008 Cold-turkey * Finally, if you’re addicted to blackberry email, consider getting a second email address for your blackberry only, only for important communications. If someone needs to reach you asap, they can email you on your blackberry. (Heaven forbid we call someone on the phone these days!) Cold-turkey

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Finally, if you’re addicted to blackberry email, consider getting a second email address for your blackberry only, only for important communications. If someone needs to reach you asap, they can email you on your blackberry. (Heaven forbid we call someone on the phone these days!)

]]> By: William Lefkovics http://www.webconsultingdc.com/2008/blackberry-the-productivity-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-307 William Lefkovics Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:16:44 +0000 http://www.webconsultingdc.com/?p=211#comment-307 Overall, I enjoyed your assessment of alleged productivity gains from Blackberry use and connectivity in any form outside of office hours does muddy the line between work and personal time. But not everyone uses the Blackberry in the same manner. Responses to e-mails do not always go back to the original sender. Offices are not always in one time zone or operate only in one shift. Productivity is not always measured in time saved - it may be 'manufactured units' or 'profitability per unit of time' or even 'clients impressed with apparent availability of their vendor (real or perceived)'. In some cases, Blackberry users may just feel better about themselves carrying one around and feel better about their job. Silly psychology aside... A question answered promptly while away from the office may hold immense savings for the company. My boss attending an ice hockey game was able to promptly respond to an e-mail that made sure a bad decision wasn't made at the manufacturing plant which operates from 8am to midnight daily. Our sales rep got his message to e-mail or call his customer in Australia because they were not happy with a shipment. These may not be 'productivity' gains (more like an effort to attain competitive advantage), but they do fall outside the narrow contraints with which you defined Blackberry use. We also have developers that produce applications for the Blackberry (indeed the 3 day Blackberry Developer Conference was just this past week in Santa Clara, CA). Some companies have highly integrated applications that use Blackberries as a mobile client. Look at the productivity gains they realize in Chennai, India using Blackberries, SMS, and wireless printers to assist with tax collection: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102561040500.htm. Surely, there is a solid need for your Wall of Shame category. But in some cases, the Blackberry, or other mobile device, can indeed return productivity gains. William (A bummed RIMM shareholder) Overall, I enjoyed your assessment of alleged productivity gains from Blackberry use and connectivity in any form outside of office hours does muddy the line between work and personal time.

But not everyone uses the Blackberry in the same manner. Responses to e-mails do not always go back to the original sender. Offices are not always in one time zone or operate only in one shift. Productivity is not always measured in time saved – it may be ‘manufactured units’ or ‘profitability per unit of time’ or even ‘clients impressed with apparent availability of their vendor (real or perceived)’. In some cases, Blackberry users may just feel better about themselves carrying one around and feel better about their job. Silly psychology aside…

A question answered promptly while away from the office may hold immense savings for the company. My boss attending an ice hockey game was able to promptly respond to an e-mail that made sure a bad decision wasn’t made at the manufacturing plant which operates from 8am to midnight daily. Our sales rep got his message to e-mail or call his customer in Australia because they were not happy with a shipment. These may not be ‘productivity’ gains (more like an effort to attain competitive advantage), but they do fall outside the narrow contraints with which you defined Blackberry use.

We also have developers that produce applications for the Blackberry (indeed the 3 day Blackberry Developer Conference was just this past week in Santa Clara, CA). Some companies have highly integrated applications that use Blackberries as a mobile client. Look at the productivity gains they realize in Chennai, India using Blackberries, SMS, and wireless printers to assist with tax collection: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102561040500.htm.

Surely, there is a solid need for your Wall of Shame category. But in some cases, the Blackberry, or other mobile device, can indeed return productivity gains.

William
(A bummed RIMM shareholder)

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