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Impact of technology in the workplace
Impact of technology in the workplace
Impact of technology in the workplace
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It was once a common belief that if employees worked hard, showed up on time and followed the rules that they would be guaranteed a job for life. However, over the last decade there have been changes in the workplace. There are two main causes for this change. The changes in the work place in the twenty-first century are being caused by advancements in technology and expansions in globalization through the Internet.
The advancement in technology across the world is a major cause of the changes in the workplace. For instance, the advancements in computers are astounding. Mainframe computers have given way to personal computers, then laptop computers, and now hand-held tablets. Findings of a study by IDC, a market research company, showed that by 2015 more people will be connecting to the Internet using tablets, smart phones, and other mobile gadgets compared to those who use the Internet through their desktop computers (Schroeder). Cell phones have also seen a revolution by becoming faster, more efficient and more feature-rich. It is even possible to check email on the way to work using a handheld device. A Nielson fact sheet outlining the usage of various devices in America shows that “there are 223 million cell phone users over the age of 13, and 25% of the mobile devices sold during Q3 of 2009 were smart phones. That is estimated to go up to between 40-50% during 2010” (Heimbuch). Individuals can text, status update, tweet, or reach other seamlessly by mobile devices that can fit in their pockets. Even the printed word may become obsolete according to Aaron Bradley, as outlined in his online article called “A Modest Proposal for Newspapers in the 21st Century.” In his article, he discusses how the printing of newspapers is be...
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...in the new “flat world” individuals need to figure out how to become “untouchable.” He explains that “untouchables are people whose jobs cannot be outsourced, digitized, or automated” (184). He explains that in a “flat world” there is no longer a job based solely on geographic, but rather in most cases an available job “will go to the best, smartest, most productive or cheapest worker-wherever he or she resides” (183). He goes on to show that companies and individuals have to look at the global picture today in order to succeed (183).
The work place has changed through the course of the centuries. Technology and globalization are the causes of the change in the workplace in the twenty-first century. Who does what work, when, and how will continue to evolve as technology becomes increasingly more advanced and communication across the globe becomes more seamless.
There are many injustices in the workforce, racism, gender inequality, and employees being replaced by new technology.
There are several issues that were both discussed in the book End This Depression Now by Paul Krugman and Changing Contours of Work: Jobs and opportunities in the New Economy by Stephen Sweet and Peter Meiksins. The textbook offered a sociological analysis of the nature of work in the new economy, such as the new opportunities in this economy as well and the challenges many workers now face and ultimately how this change the family lives of many. The book also discussed about the new face of the workplace and work in general, which includes issues on inequality and discrimination. The book discussed job security, policies and why workers work more now than they did before or work in 24/7 economy. Lastly, the book talks about the ways on how to face all the challenges in this new economy and work environment.
The main themes addressed in this article are the generational changes within the workforce, the advancements in the economy that are affecting the workplaces and the changes in the work ethic of employees.
Arguments supporting the "flat world theory" come mainly from Friedman. His argument rests on the assumption of ten flatteners and a triple convergence. Friedman says that the power of new information technology has helped bring the world closer together and has made it more interconnected and interdependent (Friedman, 2005). More people now have access to this technological platform for education, innovation and entrepreneurship (Friedman, 2005). However, Florida (2005, p.51) argues that this flat playing field mainly affects the advanced countries, which see not only manufacturing work but also higher-end jobs. Other developing or undeveloped countries simply do not have the luxury of this connection and are left out of this technological platform. Florida (2005, p.51) contends that “...there are more insidious tensions among the world’s growing peaks, sinking valleys, and shifting hills”. This inequality is growing across the world and within countries.
Working in today’s society has changed in the last few decades. The economy and technology are the main reasons for this change. The type of job and environment where one works has also changed. The fact that many people work from home via the internet has drastically changed the workforce and the environment surrounding it. With this change comes new demands, expectations, and opportunities for employers.
Thomas Friedman discusses his concerns on globalization and the readily flattening world in his book, “The World Is Flat.” He starts off his journey when on a trip to Bangalore he realizes that he is not in Kansas anymore. All around him are advertisements for American companies like Pizza Hut and HP while he plays golf. He also encounters Indian workers that are working for American companies (outsourcing at its finest). They have adopted American accents and American names as well. Finally, his last reality check comes when he visits Infosys Technologies and sees their huge conference room with their millions of screens that allows them to talk to people from around the globe, like their producers and supplies and manufacturers, at the same time via satellite and teleconferencing technology. On his way out the head of this giant company tells Friedman that the playing field is being leveled, and the more Friedman thinks about this the more he realizes that he is right. Friedman was asleep at the wheel, just like the rest of America. However, once woken up, realizing that damage was being done, he was eager to make up lost time.
Modern day organizations have to constantly change to meet the demands of customers. Workers have to change with the organizations to be able to perform new functions and complete new sophisticated tasks.
Klobucher, T 2011, Characteristics of Generation 2020: Generations at Work, The Great Workplace Revolution, accessed 11 November 2013, http://www.thegreatworkplacerevolution.com/characteristics-of-generation-2020-generations-at-work/
Changing jobs in the 20th century was considered an oddity. Carrying on the tradition of beginning and ending ones career with the same company was the norm. Find a good company to work for, start at the bottom and work your way as high as possible was common place then. These organizations, known as “‘womb to tomb’ employers” (p. 42) would often times keep personnel in their employ with fifty years or more of faithful service.
This have create so much ease for the access of information and entertainment. The use of the Internet have constantly increase the amount of user capability to multitasking, as of September 2009 there have been up to an increment of 30% in the US (Gali Einav, 2010). With technology as a rapidly growing trend, consumers find it relatively a necessity to own a smart phone. Having to view the news without the interference of having to wait through commercial or advertisement, the internet has created a passive platform for advertisement to be display passively. With the Internet supporting throughout multiple kind of device’s platform, the hassle of viewing the news will not be an issue for any consumers as long as they are logged on. This has caused a great deal towards the mainstream media, by creating participating communities around the media events. Consumers may choose to desert and choose the Internet as a substitution of traditional news media with the assumption of users being a more active consumer, rather than passive (Scott L. Althaus & David Tewksbury,
But in the use of the term “technology” today, there is far more associated meaning than automobiles or washing machines. It has ushered in an entirely new way of working, and in increasing numbers of organizations, increased options of just where work associated with a particular job will be done. More employees than ever have the option of working at home yet still being employed either full...
The impact of technology on our individual lives and culture has been a general issue of our time. In her essay “In the Beginning Was the Word,” Christine Rosen analyzes the effects of the image-dominated modern society and its influence on our daily lives, as well our comprehension skills of complex literature acquired through the years of human history. In “Three Tweets for the Web” Tyler Cowan analyzes the effects of a new cultural medium of our society and its effectiveness on multitasking as well as increasing intellectual satisfaction of our highly literal modern society. Rosen and Cowan both present the evidence that our society is in a midst of a culture transition, and printed world is being a less central part of our lives. This cultural transition affects our daily activities in many ways; such as, stimulating distractions, duration of attention span and our efficiency at multitasking.
Throughout the essay, I will be evaluating how globalisation and technology may influence future offices being paper-less and people-less and how communication is heavily influenced by technology.
In Today’s world, the composition and how work is done has massively changed and is still continuing to change. Work is now more complex, more team base, depends greatly on technological and social skills and lastly more mobile and does not depend on geography. Companies are also opting for ways to help their employees perform their duties effectively so that huge profits are realized in the long term .The changes in the workplaces include Reduction in the structure of the hierarchy ,breakdown in the organization boundaries , improved and better management tactics and perspectives and lastly better workplace condition and health to the employees. (Frank Ackerman, Neva R. Goodwin, Laurie Dougherty, Kevin Gallagher, 2001)
To remain competitive and employable in the twenty-first century workplace, society today must conform to the changing demands. Technology is one of the principal driving forces of the future; it is transforming our lives and shaping our future at rates unprecedented in history, with profound implications, which we cannot even begin to see or understand.