Role of Technology in the Workplace - Assignment Example

Role of Technology in the Workplace The latest inventions in technology continue to facilitate the cutting edge within the workplace, constituting various IT services and equipment that accomplish tasks within record time. The trend in the business and work area is the application of technology in all aspects of working within the workplace in the rush to adopt modernization and remain competitively relevant within the marketplace. The typical worker faces the incorporation of technology in all their life factions from home to work. The role of technology in the workplace entails various contributions. For instance, through the communication technology, services such as video conferencing are essential in revolutionizing the workplace Hinchcliffe (2014). Video conferencing allows for activities such as distance online meetings in which the leadership makes plans over their worker and manages its activities. Another role of technology within the workplace is its utilization for the procedures of communication between the workers and customers of the business or organization, as well as, the leadership at the workplace. By using technology for communication, the workplace relations between the customers, workers and leadership receive a significant boost. Thus, technology plays a remarkably essential role in the process of the workplace establishing its relations with the customers. Moreover, with better communication technology in use between the workplace and the customer base, technology facilitates better customer care services in the organization Hinchcliffe (2014). Thus, technology has a role in establishing and improving the customer care service within the workplace for the advantage of the workplace, as well as, the workers dealing directly with clients. Another notable role of technology in the workplace is the aspect of mobility while at work. Technology entails several aspects, which are mobile and allow mobility Hinchcliffe (2014). Such technological services allowing mobility at workplace include the utilization of portable devices such as the smartphones, tablets and laptops among others. These devices allow workers to work even from the comfort of their homes, a factor that influences the mobility within the workplace. This mobility results in improved service delivery as the worker capitalizes on the aspect of time saving. Additionally, the use of technology within the workplace increases the pace of accomplishing tasks. Technology incorporates the aspect of speed a factor that most organizations consider while selecting the technology to purchase for the workplace. Therefore, with the advent of technology, the workplace pace and flow of work is faster, a role contributed by inclusion of technology. Moreover, technology in the workplace is significant in the aspects of driving performance, increasing productivity and innovativeness, which eventually result in better returns for the organization or business. Technology has the aspect of reducing the human effort required in competing a task, as well as that it does not tire. Thus, combining these features of technology, they enhance the role of technology in increasing the productivity of workers within the workplace, increasing their innovativeness and further motivating them by driving their performance Hinchcliffe (2014). The efficiency that results from this utilization of technology leads to better returns for the business. Thus, technology holds a noteworthy position in the performance and productivity of the workers within the workplace, in addition to the processes, it facilitates within the working activities. Drawbacks of Technology in the Workplace Despite the various positive impacts that technology facilitates within the workplace, it also has its share of challenges and negative impacts. The technology within the workplace often entails the integration of much software that contains many applications. Thus, for a worker working with software that includes several applications usually between 20 to 30 applications simultaneously Hinchcliffe (2014). This means that the worker is handling a lot of work at the same time; hence, it divides the attention of the employee. The divided attention in the activity that the person engages creates aspects of inefficiency and work overload for the employee. Furthermore, the work overload through engaging all these applications simultaneously drains the attention of the employee from the essential activities in the workplace, which creates reduced efficiency and productivity of the worker. Another drawback of technology in the workplace is the reduced effort, utilization and development of personal skills of the employees. Technology simplifies the work activity in the workplace leading to the worker becoming dependent upon the technology for simple tasks. This overreliance on technology reduces personal skill development of the worker as the person applies technology even in tasks that they could do manually. Moreover, technology within the workplace also affects the lifestyle of the worker Hinchcliffe (2014). Technology creates fragmented and rushed lifestyle in workers, influencing their organization and thinking abilities. This results in several aspects of reduced life activities; thus, affecting the lifestyle of the worker. Another aspect of technology in the workplace is loss of job opportunities. Technology simplifies the work activity at the workplace, which results in reduced demand for human effort. This factor contributes to the elimination of workers whose activities, the technology in place accomplishes. Thus, technology faces resistance from workers in the workplace due to this effect, thus creating conflicts within the workplace between workers and management Hinchcliffe (2014). These conflicts can adversely cause loss to the organization. Additionally, the open nature of technology exposes the employees to factors of employee privacy. For instance, the installation of technology to monitor the activities of employees in the workplace, although it is positive for the management, it affects the employees negatively as in infringes their privacy rights. Moreover, technology also affects the workplace negatively as aspects of pervasiveness incorporated in technology impact the lives of workers. For instance, aspects of email insecurity and access of promiscuous sites over the internet affect the workplace conduct of the employees. Thus, technology as a factor of workplace contributes these notable drawbacks to the employees and management at the workplace. Using Technology to Excel in the Workplace Technology is essential in facilitating effective working within the workplace especially with the increasing globalization efforts. Therefore, this necessitates the need to establish procedures of using technology to excel within the workplace. Firstly, the organization adopting technology should adopt features of technology such as social network, online communities and centralized streaming such as work email and intranet connections Hinchcliffe (2014). Establishing these platforms in the workplace will facilitate the engagement of the organization with its customers and clients and communication within the workplace. Communication is essential for effective communication and these technological platforms will facilitate the communication process for the workplace. Secondly, to ensure that technology in the workplace is effective and excels, the management at the workplace should consider the inclusion of real-time business activities such as in marketing and customer care among other activities (Hinchcliffe (2014). Technology that allows for the working of real-time processes for communication and other procedures in the workplace facilitates the efforts of the workers; hence, enhancing the success of technology applied in the organization. Moreover, due to the various drawbacks pertaining security and privacy over the technologies in place, the organization must establish standards and guidelines for expected utilization of the technology in the workplace. Regulation of the procedures of using technology in the workplace will ensure that workers focus on the essential role of technology in the workplace, thus, improving the utilization of technology. This will foster the effectiveness of the technology in the workplace; hence, ensuring success of the technology and employees. Moreover, to ensure that application of technology excels within the workplace, it is essential to eliminate the worries of the workers and conflicts that result due to the establishment of new technology at the workplace. Thus, in this procedure, the organization should facilitate education programs for the workers to prepare them for the new technology. Moreover, these programs, which may also include workshop trainings, should focus on motivating the workers on the essence of having the technology at the workplace. Implementing such activities and programs will facilitate the motivation of workers to effectively and efficiently adopt and utilize the technology in the workplace; hence, escalating their excellence at the workplace and further success for the technology in the workplace. Work cited Hinchcliffe, D. (2014). The digital workplace in 2014: Plight and promise of today's employees. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/examining-the-digitanl-workplace-in-2014- 7000026781. Read More