IT Management Slideshow: March Madness: The Great Productivity Killer

Every year, basketball fans become obsessed with the NCAA March Madness tournament, accessing broadcasts and the latest stats via TVs, computers and mobile deices. How can you blame them? The annual event has the top college basketball teams in the country competing to be named the nation's best. Chances are, you're among those who are immersed in the 2011 NCAA right now. But, from a productivity standpoint, March Madness isn't so much fun, especially for CIOs who need to manage demand on corporate networks and appropriate use of corporate devices. Over the next three weeks -- and especially during the next week when games will be played during work hours -- you'll be spending an inordinate amount of time ensuring employees are doing what they should be doing -- working -- and not what they shouldn't be doing -- watching the games. In addition to online streaming of games, CBS Sports is also offering free NCAA mobile apps. Some of you may wonder whether trying to stop employees from watching NCAA March Madness at work is really worth the trouble. A recent study from outplacement agency Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, Inc., may well help you decide. The organization finds that productivity takes a big hit during March Madness.