Impact of Information and Communications Technology on Human Resources Development - Research Paper Example

The paper "Impact of Information and Communications Technology on Human Resources Development" is an outstanding example of an information technology research paper. This research paper explores the impact of communications technology and the internet on the development of human resources in academic organizations. The different ways through which innovation and academic leadership in human resources can be put in place are assessed. The main point of departure in this research is changing in instructional technology, which has made e-learning an attractive way of acquiring knowledge in academic organizations. The leadership challenges that affect human resource managers in light of technological changes are analyzed.

The need for HR specialists to develop an interest in matters of e-learning technology has been highlighted since this is the only way in which they can respond effectively to the training needs of staff in these organizations. For instructional technology to be used effectively there is need for a centralized leadership through the setting up of the position of senior academic technology officer in all academic organizations.

This research also found out that the workplace in every academic organization and corporate university cannot avoid undergoing transformations. Some tasks that employees used to perform independently have to be shared and knowledge-intensive teaching methods have to change into knowledge awareness methods. More importantly, the teaching staff has to get used to the idea of transforming brick and mortar lecture rooms into virtual lecture rooms in the near future.

According to Salmon (2003 p. 34) and (Lacity & Willcocks 2003, p. 55), the findings indicate the scantiness of research on which learning approach is best; whether, teaching staff should adopt formal, nonformal or informal approaches in updating themselves on matters of human resource management. This research indicates that the academic staff members in universities who do not need any further education for employability purposes (they have studied up to Ph.D. level) prefer to use informal learning methods while acquainting themselves with technological dimensions of today’s e-learning approaches.