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It focuses on the bright side of IM, but neglects the dark side, e.g. security concerns and work interruptions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>IM is not only a social tool, it also has the potential to contribute to work teams. However, IM cannot achieve better work performance alone. Its contribution to strengthen the social networks at work is also critical. These social networks at work can enable employees to overcome psychological barriers to knowledge sharing.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>Studies of IM in the workplace have not previously considered social network perspectives, nor the value of such IM\u2010facilitated social networks for work performance. This large scale survey of work professionals across four locations in China provides evidence for the considerable positive impacts of IM on work.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/09593841011052165","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2010,5,29]],"date-time":"2010-05-29T07:00:23Z","timestamp":1275116423000},"page":"193-211","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":38,"title":["Empowering employees through instant messaging"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Carol X.J.","family":"Ou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Robert M.","family":"Davison","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xuepan","family":"Zhong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yi","family":"Liang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022031120434263600_b1","unstructured":"AMAPI (2006), \u201cWorkplace e\u2010mail, instant messaging and blog survey\u201d, The American Management Association and ePolicy Institute, available at: www.epolicyinstitute.com\/survey2006Summary.pdf."},{"key":"key2022031120434263600_b2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Amoroso, D.L. and Cheney, P.H. 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