IT
implementation and technology in working environment changed the nature of
work, it changed communication ways, changed skill level required by
organizations, replaced some jobs and created new opportunities. Taking for
example the telecommunication impact and effect on organizations, we notice
that we use different methods to communicate after implementing those
technologies, some have improved the performance of workers and others created
more pressure on employees and made them complacent on technology.
The
communication methods prior to applying technology at work place used to be face
to face or mails sent through postal offices, but those days organizations can communicate
using email systems, video conferencing, IP phones, electronic fax and mobile
phone. Depending on how these technologies are implemented and used, the
performance of employees can vary. Using electronic mail technology allowed
organizations to communicate in seconds with colleagues within the organization
and across the globe, a lot of advantages came with this technology and no
organization currently can survive without it, it became vital element in each
organization. It increased productivity, reduced travel expenses and cost and
works as a great tool for marketing.
Technology
affected employment levels through replacement effects, by replacing people
with machines, to increase productivity. An article in the Economist presented
the American pharmaceutical giant, which produces 80 percent of the world’s
Viagra, this factory hardly have workers, all tasks are automated and unmanned
machines are used to pick up, wrap and label the products. (Buchanan &
Huczynski, 2007) Technology is blamed for unemployment, however, as it
automated lots of jobs and made them redundant, it opened a wide set of new
jobs that require special skills. Still this cause job insecurity for most of
employees working in the IT field, you have to have very high and unique skills
or you are easily replicable, even non IT jobs can be replaced. This high level
of job insecurity will lead to lack of innovation, employees who don’t have enough
computer knowledge or not proficient will have to work harder and increase
workload, specially if their job requires computer usage, this will cause job
stress.
The
problem is not in the technology, it’s in the way we design, implement and use
it, and anything that is used out of its context will fail to deliver the
expected outcome. Even email system, which is a crucial business tool, can have
negative impacts on the organization if it was miss-used or not secured
properly.
References:
Buchanan,
D. & Huczynski, A. (2007): Organizational behavior: an introductory
Bansler,
J., Havn, E., (2004) "Exploring the role of network effects in IT
implementation: The case of knowledge repositories", Information
Technology & People, Vol. 17 Iss: 3, pp.268 - 285
(Accessed 6 May 2011)
Blankevoort, P., (1984) ‘Effects of communication and
organization’, International Journal of
Project Management, Volume 2, Issue 3, August 1984, Pages 138-147, ISSN
0263-7863, DOI: 10.1016/0263-7863(84)90013-9, [Online], Available from:
(Accessed 6 May 2011)
Wiley, (n.d.), ‘Impacts of IT on Individuals, Organizations,
and Society, Implementing and Managing IT’, [Online], Available from:
(Accessed 6 May 2011)
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