Critical and Rational Analysis of Technology Change Models - Essay Example

Critical and Rational Analysis of Technology Change Models The inception of the Internet may have lashed over and done with a pace to leave one gasping, but for many of us, a solitary reality that is bound to happen still lingers, quite like a persistent pain that refuses to leave - technology change. The introduction of the World Wide Web has made technological evolution unavoidable. It has proved to be one breakthrough event that perpetuated and evolved as modern life pushes through. With this, most people have claimed that the future is a bit hard to conceive and recent technological advances have made it even harder to anticipate. Humanity only has a vague idea of the future, and anticipations and expectations change as new aspects of technology are introduced ("Technology and Change"). There are times when technology change may seem foreseeable but the way it has taken the world by surprise cannot simply be underrated. It has, indeed, created a plethora of advanced skills and expertise. Today's technological advances have it possible for individuals to explore the universe in a blink of the eye ("Technology and Change"). It created a vast and wide understanding of the world around us and instigated a deep-down comprehension of why life has to evolve in such a way that it has to shed its skin from the past and continue to live for the future. Everyday, we see technology change happen on our streets, at our homes, in school, or in the office. We always see technology change in our lives. However, in spite of its clear existence, many people cannot simply accept what type of changes technology has to offer. This is because in some ways, it happens so abruptly that they cannot instantly grasp what it has to offer or what good it can provide them. Modern technology has given humanity the chance to use highly advanced and innovative devices that makes life a bit easier, replacing obsolete and primitive devices that were in use not so long ago. These modern devices and methods all have the potential to make life easier if used properly ("Technology"). And perhaps they were. What used to be an innovative and practical change that created a life full of immediacy and modernization are now feeble and staggering, needled by wrong dispositions, crippled by self demoralization, overwhelmed with selfishness or drained of energy by war and violence, or otherwise threatened by a global phenomenon known as nuclear war. More than ever before, it has become clear that the torch of technology change will be passed to the next generation at a time sooner than we would like to think, or accept, signaling that cycles and passages relentlessly revolve even when we are not aware of it - or particularly when we are not aware of it. However underhanded and terrifying it can be, the way technology change has thrived in human history has always been and will always is a part of it. With the explicit impact of technology change, people do not have any choice but to go with the flow. Hence, they have undeniably submitted their selves to such events and blindly accepted the fact that technology is here to stay. There are various organizations existing today that promotes technological change in spite of the possible repercussions it may bring ("Technology and Systematic Change"). Even if it comes to the point of being both a sociological and technological issue, it may never be denied that it is a part of social change. One of these organizations, nsba.org, states that: Boards of education need to recognize that technology integration is as much about change as it is about technology. How board members feel about change and their attitudes about people's ability to change or not to change are crucia ("Technology and Systematic Change") Those that support technology and technological change state that in order for technology to truly serve its purpose to society, it has to be integrated and incorporated into social institutions such as educational units. This will enable the open discussion and justification of technological changes and its effect to society ("Technology and Systemic Change"). People must then realize that the only permanent thing in this world is change, and technological advancement is part of these changes. Most of the changes that are happening right now are acceptable, and this happens through effective information distribution and dissemination. One of the more feasible ways in which to make this work is to integrate technology in educational system ("Technology and Systemic Change"). This does not mean that any type of technology should be automatically be integrated in any educational system. This is because each type of technological model has its own influence to society ("Technology and Systematic Change"). First, a planned technological model that aims to make the most out of the advantages that are tuned for people thereby reducing resistance of society to technological change ("The Roles of Leadership: The Role of Leading Change in the Organization). Planned technological change is usually the most effective model available, since most of these changes are concerned with individual facets of the process ("Change Management"). This is mainly due to the fact that a planned technological model is more attuned to planning processes that includes people and their roles in the process. Coupled with proper planning, the aims of technological change can be easily adapted and accepted by society ("The Roles of Leadership: The Role of Leading Change in the Organization"). Also consider that change do not happen in an instant. Technological change is not an exception and there are many factors that must be considered before it becomes effective. A plan that clearly classifies and identifies the different aspect of technology is therefore necessary ("The Roles of Leadership: The Role of Leading Change in the Organization"). Technological changes may not serve to fulfill its purpose if the messages that it bears is not planned carefully and effectively delivered to the target recipients. This means that it is very important to develop an effective means of disseminating the type of technological change that the organization wants to achieve. This must be given top priority in planned technology change models ("The Communication Plan"). Another type of technological change model is the situated technological change model. It operates similarly too the planned technology model because situated change state that change must be carefully planned and arranged so that positive results would surface in the execution of the entire process (Orlikoswki). In addition, situated technological change model assumes that radical changes always happen in an instant. Therefore, even if the whole scenario is properly planned, changes may happen inevitably in an unexpected manner (Orlikoswki). Despite this, it should be put in mind that the situated technological change model is not done on purpose, anticipated or irregular but it is rather just recurring and mutual changes in practice through the course of time. This only indicates that any sort of technological change may still happen and may still depend on the situations that may happen as the particular change or set of changes happens. It is therefore important to realize that certain unforeseen results, accompanying disturbances and improvements may still happen (Orlikoswki 1). This said, it cannot be simply implied that technological change can be constant and permanent because of the theories that surround it. Adaptation technology change model meanwhile creates new connotations of what technological change can bring. This model states that if society tries to adapt a certain technology then there can be conventional changes that are expected to happen. Simply said, people should therefore learn to adapt to any sort of technological changes that might happen in order for it to yield positive results (Orlikoswki) The underlying problem that this type of technology change model can bring is that people may not readily accept the kind of change that may take place. For instance, the aborigines may not readily grasp the kind of technology that the television and the cameras can bring if they are instantly exposed to such devices. They may be surprised to see their selves in the television tube. And if they are compelled to adapt this kind of technology change in their society, they may find it hard to understand why such occurrences happen. Another type of technological change, structural technological change, could bring about some rather drastic changes. Structural technological changes implies that technological change would happen if there are people that attempt technological changes that will restructure society. The ultimate and transitional demand for change of society is the basis of this kind of change (Lorentz and Savona). Basically, structural change model may create excellent viewpoints. However, it should also be noted that structural technological changes should never be undertaken by an organization not because there will be dangers that will happen if there are no changes that will happen or if there is something wrong with the structure (Maiese). In most circumstances, results from technological change may take long to materialize or the expected results may not happen at all. It should also be noted that technological change should never be considered as a possible solution to a forthcoming problem that has a potential to ruin society. Instead, it should be considered as a sort of progression or evolution of an existing type of technology (Maiese). It is not practical to say that in order to be innovative and modernized, one has to simply grasp whatever kind of technology the world has to offer. It is very important that such changes will always have a great impact in the economy, in the society, and in every person's lives. Technological advancement will be a constant predicament for society, and this will remain as is for a long time. Society as a whole should get use to and make the most out of technological changes as much as possible (Malinao). All of these things were boiled down to the fact that there is nothing in this world that is permanent except change. It becomes one more point to ponder for those among us who are currently trapped in psychological and technological grief, and who, as thinking citizens of every nation, would wage wars against insurmountable technological advances and undefined need for technology changes. People should learn to recognize the need for these technology change models to provide a clear-cut definition of the term to be able to understand why such changes are necessary. The interregnum of the situation provides cold convenience, where people are vexed and weary of the instant changes that technology has to bring. We plod blindly on with our minds insisting on the unfeasibility of technology change models yet we constantly accommodate such innovation while we simply cannot do something about it. Works Cited "Change Management." Wikipedia. 2006. Wikipedia Foundation Inc.23 June 2006 Lorentz, Andr and Savona, Maria. Demand and Technology Determinants of Structural Change and Tertiarisation: An Input-output Structural Decomposition Analysis for Four OECD Countries. 23 June 2006 < http://www.lem.sssup.it/WPLem/files/2005-25.pdf> Maiese, Michelle. "Social Structural Change." Beyond Intractability. Ed. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. July 2003. Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA. 23 June 2006. Malinao, Alito. "Journalism for Filipinos." Rev. Ed. 1997. Echanis Press Inc., Mandaluyong City, Philippines Orlikoswki, Wanda J. "Improvising Organizational Transformation over Time: A Situated Change Perspective," to appear in Information Systems Research, 1996. Babson.edu. 20 June 2006 "The Communication Plan" National School Boards Foundation (NSBA). 23 June, 2006 "The Roles of Leadership: The Role of Leading Change in the Organization". Cornelius & Associates. 23 June 2006 "Technology." Wikipedia. 2006. Wikipedia Foundation Inc.20 June 2006 "Technology and Change" National School Boards Foundation (NSBA). 23 June, 2006 "Technology and Systemic Change". National School Boards Foundation (NSBA). 23 June, 2006 < http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/tnsc.html> Read More