Digital Transparency in the Workplace

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/technology/slack-the-office-messaging-app-that-may-finally-sink-email.html?ref=technology

My personal thoughts:
When I send an email at work, I specify the recipients and thereby enjoy a high level of privacy with my coworkers. However, new business communication applications would make all messages (or at least the default for all messages) public to the whole company or team. The hope of transparency is that it will increase unity and productivity among employees; I share that hope, but I do so for different reasons than others usually cite. For example, I believe that with access to all office communication, a new employee would more easily understand the state of his new workplace and his role in the company which would enable him to meaningfully contribute sooner. Full transparency would also improve collaboration on projects because people with questions may find ready answers from an unexpected team member or be guided by another's work on his facet of the project. Most importantly, public office communication would encourage civil conversation from bosses or between coworkers who might otherwise speak more harshly than they should. I strongly believe that transparency is the best digital communication practice in the workplace and that all companies should seek to incorporate technologies into their offices that enable such transparency.