Introduction
Technologies continues to address people’s major unsatisfied needs, however, they will never determine our fate. Despite the fact that they are taking over human tasks it doesn’t imply that there will no longer be jobs for people. What we can do is find a way to make technologies work for us. Automation is both helpful and harmful to the current state of employment across the world.
How Technology can be Helpful in Workplace
Improves Communication
Technology makes it possible for people to communicate with other individuals and businesses via virtual offices across the globe. Many responsibilities and duties can now be accomplished from home even when one is traveling which makes working schedules flexible. By enhancing working schedules, it improves communication at the workplace.
With the advanced technology, employees are now not limited to inter-office mail or phone calls to interact anymore. Instead they can now access electronic mails which allow them to send and receive messages instantly without any interruptions or delays that time may become costly when it comes to critical decision making. A business’ communication with its partners and clients has also improved since information can be relayed via multiple channels instantly.
Improves Efficiency
Technology improves the efficiency of recruiting, hiring and screening of new employees. Firms can utilize the Internet to advertise job vacancies as well as to market themselves. Hiring managers can now target possible candidates through digital advertising. Technological development enables such activities as personality assessments to happen which enables the hiring managers to screen for potential candidates that are fit for the company (Bessen, 2014).
Furthermore, technology can enable a business to save on time by speeding up work processes. For instance, digital filing saves time when it comes to retrieving of records as this process is now available with just a click of a button and hence saving time, space and costs which would have rather been incurred in the case of manual paper filing and printing. Also, technology has also makes workplaces tidier. For instance, using computers allows instant correction which would be not only tedious and time-consuming but also messy if correction were to be made in written documents. Despite the fact that technology has taken over some tasks, it has not replaced workers overall (Bessen, 2014). It has enhanced how some professional jobs are done, for example, radiotherapy in hospitals helps physicians diagnose diseases that could were unrecognizable previously.
Enables-Learning and Distance Education
Technology has changed how organizations provide professional development and training its employees. Distance learning programs have emerged at an accelerated rate with online learning consortia, virtual universities and a continuous partnership among educational institutions, publishers, in-house development programs, commercial training plans as well as technological companies that offer distance learning opportunities. The advantage of the distance learning programs in a workplace is a very powerful tool. In cases where they are successful, time and travel expenses will be dramatically reduced (Remtulla, 2010).Moreover, technology can also offer just-in-time opportunities for one to learn unlike the traditional methods of training which required classroom facilities that had to be well organized in advance.
Enhances Mobility
Technology practically eliminates time and space. For instance, video conferencing allows employees to interact with each from any part of the globe. Furthermore, it reduces travel costs since businesses can now set up meetings and even distribute information virtually without needing room to carry out the proceedings. Hence, it allows businesses to establish their presence at minimal costs (Draheim, 2010).
How Technology Can Be Problematic In the Workplace
Office Distractions
Technology demands a lot of attention. Consider a case where one is conducting an interview via Skype; another is walking by while talking on the phone; and another is at the fax machine printing. Summing up all these activities such as the noisy printer and the noise of a ringing phone, all become a distraction. With such disruptions, it is hard to get work done as one is unable to concentrate on the task at hand as there are these constant distractions. Hence time-saving advantage gets outweighed by distractions that keep occurring all the time.
Loss of Interpersonal Communication Skills
Social media, phones, texting, and emails have replaced face to face communications. As a result, the ability for one to choose with whom to interact with at the workplace is no longer an option. Interpersonal skills which are crucial for building business relationships are no longer the norm as listening skills and courtesies are not considered necessary when it comes to social media hence personal interactions skills are decreased. Also, too much dependence on electronic channels of communication increases communication traffic which is unnecessary.
Maintenance Costs
Technology is constantly being improved hence requires constant upgrading. Each upgrade does not only incur costs but also requires training of the employees. The loss of productivity as the employees require time off from work to attend to these training together with the costs incurred reduces an organization’s overall profitability (Remtulla, 2010).
Also once a new installation has been successfully completed, a system will require maintenance which will be an extra cost. Moreover, in case of a breakdown, maintenance or technical support will not be an option. A new system has to be installed and purchasing of such equipment may not a cheap process that can be easily undertaken. Decisions have to be made first which will take time hence productivity will be put on halt in the meantime.
Conclusion
Technology has indeed become such an important aspect in businesses today. Ranging from small businesses to large corporate, technology is required at every level of production. It has made it possible for businesses to offer fast and efficient results. However, all these technologies come at a price. From high maintenance fees to even costing people their job as most jobs can now be done by machines, technology is good as well as bad for business.
References
Bessen, J. (2014). Some predict computers will produce a jobless future. Here’s why they’re wrong. Washington Post. Retrieved 19 August 2016, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/02/18/some-predict-computers-will-produce-a-jobless-future-heres-why-theyre-wrong/
Draheim, D. (2010). Business process technology: A unified view on business processes, workflows and enterprise applications. Heidelberg: Springer.
Remtulla, K. A. (2010). Socio-cultural impacts of workplace e-learning: Epistemology, ontology and pedagogy. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference
Westerman, G., Bonnet, D., & McAfee, A. (2014).Leading digital: Turning technology into business transformation.
