Business executives are spending too much time after work glued to their BlackBerries answering e-mails, according to a recent survey.
Despite the positive impact BlackBerry devices and other smartphones have on employee productivity, they also make it more difficult to switch off from the office.
The study, conducted by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM), found that an average BlackBerry user converts one hour of downtime to productive time each day and increases overall team efficiency by 38 percent.
Each member of ZDNet Australia's sister site Silicon.com's 12-person CIO Jury IT user panel agreed that BlackBerry devices and smartphones have improved their productivity but warned that it can have a negative impact on work-life balance without judicious use of the off switch.
"Improvement in productivity has been huge -- the ability to respond immediately has been a real bonus for the company," said Kevin Fitzpatrick, chief information officer at food services provider Sodexho's UK operations. "Work-life balance swings dramatically to the company side of the scales."
Alan Shrimpton, IT director at Avon and Somerset Constabulary, said checking e-mail on his smartphone during offsite downtime helps him spend time in the office more efficiently.
"I can now use downtime -- waiting to collect daughters, train journeys -- to continue to read and action e-mails, which means I don't have a huge queue waiting for me when I'm next in the office," Shrimpton said. "It has, however, extended my working day."
For others, the ability to use mobile devices and check and respond to e-mail on the move reduces stress. Steve Gediking, head of IT and facilities at the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said his latest PDA has given him an efficiency gain of about half an hour a day using otherwise dead time.
"After a recent long weekend, I would normally have returned to around 150 e-mails," Gediking said. "Instead, I spent an hour on my PDA the night before I was due back into work, and the next morning, I walked in to only six mails that required attention. Not only did this make me more efficient, but it totally reduced my stress levels."
"I connect to files and e-mail on reaching affiliate offices or via the Internet," said Michael Elliot, IT director for the UK operations of toy maker Hasbro. "Most mail can be dealt with through the BlackBerry, and it doesn't break your baggage allowance or back."
Paul Haley, IT director at the University of Aberdeen, said, "Having used both a BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, I can honestly say that they have significantly improved the efficiency of myself and my colleagues. The technology both increases output by enabling what would otherwise be unproductive downtime to be used positively, and is liberating in that it allows flexibility and responsiveness. But the technology can be seductive and may lead to an 'always on' culture."
Most survey participants agreed that the productivity gains are worth any disapproving looks from partners at dinner parties, when still responding to work e-mails at midnight.
"The BlackBerry has definitely extended the capability of utilizing 'dead' time effectively -- trains, taxis, 10-minute waits or answering questions like this," said Ric Francis, executive director of operations at the UK Post Office, responding to a CIO Jury question from his device. "The key is not to make it a way of life. Definitely a change for the better."
Sue Yoe, director of technology, information and facilities at banking payments body Apacs, said, "I use a BlackBerry but have a separate phone so that I can forget about work e-mails but still remain connected for emergencies."
Rob Neil, head of information and communication services, as well as customer services, at Ashford Borough Council, said, "I think my BlackBerry has definitely improved productivity. I'm not sure about work-life balance, but my wife has a very strong opinion on that subject since I got it."
One organisation that has just given BlackBerry devices to its senior executives is IT recruitment job site Informatiq Consulting. The company's IT manager, Spencer Steel, said there was an initial reluctance to sit down and wade through e-mail on a daily basis, but the "elder cynics" are now converted.
"We are all benefiting from quicker response times to things that need actioning 'now'," Steel said. "Communication between department managers is much quicker. The only problem I now foresee is the medical bill--key people are now walking the offices somewhat zombielike, transfixed to the screen and not paying much attention to anything else. I swear our (managing director) is going to trip over the photocopier soon -- there's always hope."
I have a crackberry and would not quite call myself an addict. I have my own business and it allows me to keep on top of things when I am away from my desk. It does mean that I find myself working when I'm supposed to be socialising.
I should really take the time to block some emails to my blackberry, like Facebook. But c'mon, it is kinda cool to know exactly when someone has written on my 'wall' ;)