>We couldn't get him to install an IM client, he doesn't carry a phone, his email response rate is ~5%, several days too late, and only responds to say he can't make it to social gatherings, etc
This is probably why he was so much more productive. I've personally turned off notification on my email and tend to set my IM to "away" because it's too distracting to productivity when people can just interrupt me at any moment. We already have a bloody meeting every morning. What ever you have to say can certainly wait until then. I wonder if anyone has done a study of how much money has been lost to these "open plan" working environments.
This is probably why he was so much more productive. I've personally turned off notification on my email and tend to set my IM to "away" because it's too distracting to productivity when people can just interrupt me at any moment. We already have a bloody meeting every morning. What ever you have to say can certainly wait until then. I wonder if anyone has done a study of how much money has been lost to these "open plan" working environments.