E-Mail, Text Messages, IMs Cost The US $650 Billion in 2006

Hi Terrence, I believe that the stated figure of USD 650 billion is still too low:

http://www.managingio.com/2008/02/17/the-real-cost-of-information-overload/

Whatever the real costs, they seem to be enough to justify a blog entirely devoted to the subject of information overload which I have just started ;-) You can reach it at http://www.managingio.com

Comments are welcome! Cheers, Nicolas

Solving the $650bn problem requires a new, high-level workplace tool - a Human Interaction Management System (HIMS), that understands human collaboration and leverages email et al to support it.

A HIMS lets you negotiate next steps with colleagues in your own and other organizations, using a clear visual representation of everyone's responsibilities and commitments, then helps you execute your own part in these "Stories".

The reference implementation of a HIMS is the free desktop program HumanEdj. If you want a glimpse of the future, check out the walkthrough at http://www.humanedj.com/faq#Tutorials.

Sure right how about asking tech support for help and not getting a responce for a few days! The customer is king!How about the Queens there rich!

I agree that this is a problem...big time, especially for business'. And I can't believe that this response is the first to respond giving the length of time the article has been posted. I'm on the way out the door right now and it will surly be discussed this morning at our management meeting and a solution in place by the New Year to fix it, at least at our corporation.

It's called multi-tasking. Why are people IMing at work anyway? Our company doesn't allow that but following up on emails and phone calls in a timely manner is part of my job. You have to learn to be able to do more than one thing at a time.

This is simply not true, unless they are mixing the texting/IMing social habits of high schoolers and pretending businessmen and women are doing it, but that again would make it not true. I'm not saying that they don't ever do it, but give me a break, the ones that text/IM this year were the same ones that spent their time playing minesweeper last year, so there is really no greater loss in productivity, it's already been accounted for!

Yeah right, try telling my customers that. Gee, I got an order via e-mail, nah I'll answer it in two days. Truth is, the customer is always right. If you dont give them the service they want, they will find someone who will. In todays day and age it is very hard to get a customer and when you do, you do what it takes to hold on to them.

Run the numbers, if every single American (300 million) were working. And every single one of them made a little more than the average salary (say $50,000) break it down to working 5days a week 8hrs a day. Then every single American would have to be texting/IMing over 30mins of every work day. Now if you account for the actual number of people working, and the average salaries of the working class, along with the average salaries of the business class, then you end up with something more like 1.5-2 hours of EVERY work day spent texting and IMing rather than working. What a load of BS, this "$650 Billion" thing was made up.

Run the numbers next time O'Brien

Dear naive Brandon...This is NOT made up.
Even in a closely monitired setting such as health care...people are texting and the like ALL THE TIME. It is rampant. Those of us that are grown ups keep our phones in our lockers and use them on break as allowed by policy, or we can be terminated, on the spot. Whether it is health care or another business, it is stealing time, and wasting time.

I don't own a cell phone. Hate the damn things, and who would I call or text message when I am working? My dog sure won't answer the phone. lol
I see people constantly calling and text messaging during work. I think it is a gross misuse and mistrust of company time. I have even seen people calling someone who is just a around the corner in the building. I guess laziness is really coming to a head when a person can't walk 30 feet to talk to someone.

I wonder if it's really that high. Nevertheless, it is a problem and one that many of us, including me, could improve in. Technology is great in so many ways, but it definitely has its share of drawbacks. We should pray for guidance on using technology and not abusing it.

Lec Zorn
http://www.leczorn.com
http://www.myspace.com/leczorn

Brandon sounds like he has done some homework. Deborah on the other hand blantantly says, "NO" but gives no info. She lost the debate and Brandon comes out on top. Ig you disagree \, show some facts to back you up MISS NAIVE!

NOT TO WORRY ... THE ECONOMY WILL NOT ALLOW 25% OF PEOPLE NOW WORKING TO BE WORKING BY 2010.
THANK YOU SO MUCH GEORGE W BUSH

It's costing more right this minute
:)

Brandon and Deborah both have good points, but I'm not sure either of them are addressing the article. It appears that it mentions IM'ing in the context of work and it also includes e-mailing. Some of our programmers and vendors have an IM presence and use it as a way to stay connected for work. Also, I've seen so many cases where I was elbow deep in a project and an email would come in from on high asking for something that is due by COB and everyone has to drop what they're doing and answer the call. Often we even find that the requirements have changed before we even have a chance to reply.

hey engelun; finally! someone I agree & relate. I DO own a cell phone, however, I only use it for emergencies. My husband & sister only ones that have my #! I have MS so when driving, out & about alone etc. I may need to call or if trouble with car or my husband calls me if in traffic, (SEATTLE)! Anyway, I agree. Such misuse. & no wonder so many of us overwieght now more than past years. gadgets ...laziness. And there's no talking one to one anymore. or a PEN to paper! Technology /so many 'THINGS' so fast too! I like to talk on a 'landline' to my mother and receive & WRITE a letter. & NO I'm not that old! Just 53. Any one else long for the 'good old days'?

Hey don't forget women's cell phone conversations interrupted by suv driving ! ! ! !

This is a management problem! There are tons of software programs that can tell management who is doing what with computer time.
There is no excuse for the higher up's to allow this. Unless they are part of the problem. In this competive job market I sincerely doubt that anyone would risk termination because of misuse of a computer. And how many deal have been finalized because of a timely IM?
In closing I am a retired IT VP and I knew what and where my employees were doing everyminute of the time by analyzing IP addresses and scanning for illegal usage of email and all without ever reading one email. The technology is out there and it is up to the individual company to utilize it.
And about 650 Billion - PPLEEASSSSSSEE give me a break that number is BS!

Multi-tasking can also produce greater problems. Within my workplace (9-1-1 Center) not only are workers allowed to IM, text message, use personal computer, and other non-work related items, but they are also permitted to watch personal DVD players and play hand held video games. This has been of some concern for a while with supervisors but there continues to be a lack of leadership by management to take a stand and set some simple rules and expectations. Just imagine your 9-1-1 call is not answered in a timely manner because they are watching "American Pie", or busy moving their thumbs having to immediately answer that IM, that is probably encouraging them to call in sick for a party on Friday night.

I guess it simply depends on your job if this would be a problem or not. At mine, we are REQUIRED to be on AIM actually during the time we are present in the office. We constantly have to monitor our e-mail and phones in case a random conference call pops up or because a client may have an emergency situation (of course making it time-sensitive). This figure just seems incredibly high and I would like to see the true breakdown used. Maybe it's just a sign of the modern, information technology times.