MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 13 CA-Robert-Half-Tech
MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- While smartphones, instant
messaging and other communication tools may be distracting at times, there
appears to be an upside: A majority (57 percent) of chief information officers
(CIOs) interviewed recently said they feel more connected to colleagues given
the prevalence of new technologies in the workplace. Still, e-mail and
in-person conversations remain the preferred ways to communicate, according to
43 percent and 36 percent of CIOs, respectively.
The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of
information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and
conducted by an independent research firm. It was based on telephone
interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States
with 100 or more employees.
CIOs were asked, "Do you feel more or less connected to your coworkers
given the prevalence of new technologies in the workplace?" Their responses:
Much more connected 24%
Somewhat more connected 33%
Neither more nor less connected 33%
Somewhat less connected 5%
Much less connected 4%
Don't know/no answer 1%
100%
Respondents also were asked, "What is the preferred way for IT staff to
communicate with each other in the office?" Their responses:
E-mail 43%
In-person conversations 36%
Phone 10%
Instant messaging4%
Text messaging 2%
Don't know/no answer 5%
100%
"E-mail is effective for quick exchanges and keeping written records of
decisions," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half
Technology. "However, when conveying potentially sensitive information,
nothing can replace the value of face-to-face communication."
Lee noted that choosing the right medium for the message is particularly
important in times of economic uncertainty. "Companies that make difficult
decisions in response to a more challenging business climate must communicate
proactively and diplomatically with staff," she said. "It's not just the
content of the message, but the manner in which it's delivered that has an
effect on employees and how they, in turn, communicate with each other."
About the Survey
The national survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading
provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time
basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. The survey is based on
more than 1,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S.
companies with 100 or more employees. In order for the survey to be
statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments were
represented, the sample was stratified by geographic region, industry and
number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper
proportions of the number of employees within each region.
About Robert Half Technology
With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a
leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web
development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and
technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at
http://www.rht.com.
SOURCE Robert Half Technology
