IT managers should find ways of using consumer
technology, such asinstant messaging, which is entering
the workplace to increase worker productivity rather than banning
them outright, according to research fromGartner.
Technologies that initially targeted and were adopted by
consumers have long made an impact in corporate IT - from PCs to
today's invasion of the enterprise by consumer-grade instant
messaging and desktop search products.
"The flood of
consumer-led technologies into the enterprise is not going to
subside," said Jackie Fenn, vice-president and Gartner fellow. "To
fully realise the benefits, IT must embrace these technologies as
an ongoing strategy."
She said that corporate attitudes toward consumer-led technology
extending into the enterprise must shift from "unavoidable
nuisance" to "opportunity for additional innovation," particularly
in areas such as personal productivity tools and
communications.
The areas where most benefits will occur will be in small
workgroups that require speedy communications and social
networking, such as programming and development teams.
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