Technology Systems at AT&T - Assignment Example

 AT&T’s technology systems revolve around ICT Solutions and a network-integrated software. AT&T ICT Solutions ICT solutions at AT&T consist of hardware, software, and broadband and Wi-Fi innovations. These innovations allow AT&T clients and internal users too to come to “more energy-efficient” decisions and lower ecological effects and expenses (AT&T, 2015). AT&T achieves this strong suit by transferring work to workers instead of the workers to their work. AT&T’s ICT solutions also link users rather than depend on traveling. Users of ICT solutions by AT&T also make more power-efficient decisions by overseeing their work or enterprises distantly and in real-time (Parisian, 2015). In effect, AT&T’s ICT solutions enhance transportation and distribution infrastructure. The best example of AT&T’s ICT solutions is M2M (Machine to Machine) Technologies. M2M innovations entail communication advancements involving sensors and grids that foster the direct communication between and amongst all sections of a physical framework (Cullinen, 2013). AT&T intends to use the M2M technology system to alter the living, working, and traveling lifestyles of all its users drastically. AT&T also wants to use M2M innovations to change major industries and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 9 billion tons (AT&T, 2015). Another ICT solution by AT&T is UC (Unified Communications and Collaboration). UC boosts output and speeds up business procedures while assisting sustainability objectives and programs (AT&T, 2015). AT&T’s UC services make an assortment of a range of solutions such as acoustic, Internet, and universal videoconferencing accessible through a single interface that accommodates many collaboration solutions. UC solutions enhance businesses’ capacities to have prolific, distant, and adaptable knowledge workers. UC solutions enhances these elements by supporting the decrease of the need for both local transportation, immobile office space, and their related ecological expenses and effects (Tidd & Bessant, 2009). Telepresence is another AT&T ICT solution that falls under its UC services (AT&T, 2015). Telepresence is a high-quality videoconferencing service that offers a computer-generated, face-to-face communication experience without the cost and output fixtures of traveling. Telepresence enables users to communicate with individuals or groups of individuals situated around the world in real-time (Parisian, 2015). Lastly, cloud computing is an AT&T technology system that allows users to distantly access computing muscle, applications, and information. This technology system eradicates the need to store information and applications on hardware gadgets for users and businesses alike (AT&T, 2015). Network-integrated Software AT&T has a software with a built-in network that allows its users to in control of the software concurrently and in real-time (Carr and Lu, 2007). The software copies the functions of the complicated bits of hardware with programming and then runs them on ordinary, mass-produced hardware. Users have the freedom to add capacity quicker and drive out upgrades through the internet at a rate faster than usual. AT&T powers its network-integrated software with innovations such as SDN (software-defined networking) and NFV (network function virtualization) (AT&T, 2015). An AT&T Technology System Development and Implementation Timeline The development and implementation of these technology systems at AT&T began with the foundation of the company by its pioneers. Alexander Graham Bell marked the beginning of the communications technology system at AT&T the invention of the telephone in 1876 (Parisian, 2015). Between 1910 and 1920, AT&T pioneered intercontinental telephone calls, as well as air to ground and ground to air radio infrastructures. By 1929, AT&T had set up an intercontinental telephone service, broadband coaxial cable, and long-distance television broadcasting (Olsen et al., 2009). AT&T developed stereophonic recordings, radio technology for astrophysics research, artificial speech, a high frequency sensor, and the company’s first digital computer in 1939 (Parisian, 2015). The digital computer paved way for AT&T’s resultant ICT solutions. In the course of World War II, AT&T developed a compound number generator and Touch Tone Telephone in 1941. In 1946, AT&T pioneered in making a mobile telephone call that set the way for the current UC solutions. AT&T invented the transistor the following year and Error Correction in 1948 (Hoque et al., 2006). The 1950s for AT&T saw the First Direct-Dial Intercontinental Telephone Call, the invention of the Solar Cell, the creation of Microwave Radio-Delay Skyway, Transoceanic Telephone Tables, and the Laser (Parisian, 2015). Communication satellites, satellite broadcasting, the discovery of the microwave background left over following the Big Bang, UNIX, and the full integration of Internet by 1969 contributed to the implementation of M2M and UC technology systems (AT&T, 2015). AT&T’s invention of the Picturephone in 1970 facilitated the development of a current Telepresence technology system. The First Digital Electronic Switching occurred at AT&T in 1976 following the invention of Epitaxy Microchips. AT&T also ventured into Fiber-Optic infrastructure in 1977, which also fostered the implementation of the Telepresence technology system (Bansal, 2009). Cell phones and high definition television were the major breakthroughs of the 1980s for AT&T that helped develop Telepresence and UC solutions. In 1993, AT&T made the Computer Videophone that made the company several more steps closer to the current state of its Telepresence and network integrated software (AT&T, 2015). The creation of next-generation network solutions in 2001 was a product of the enactment of the Network for Protection Act of 2000. AT&T could not have implemented its network-integrated software and M2M technology system successfully without inventing the GS device and Tomo-Gravity in 2003 (Parisian, 2015). Information Technology Management and Knowledge Workers The evolution of technology systems at AT&T affects information technology management and knowledge workers both positively and negatively (Carr and Lu, 2007). Information technology management is the basis for sound knowledge management practices and systems in contemporary companies because of this type of revolution (Bansal, 2009). Consequently, knowledge workers enjoy the rich knowledge base brought about by AT&T’s evolved technology systems. Knowledge workers get to scan and observe their external environments, and enhance their practices with applicable, cutting-edge innovations (Petrides, 2004). This type of revolution also ignores organizational indicators that inhibit enterprises from efficiently exploiting their utilization of technology (Hoque et al., 2006). Eventually, the organization’s capacity to conduct comprehensive, prompt, and precise analysis is hampered in relation to knowledge worker success and organizational efficiency (Shane, 2009). Organizational barriers may consist of elements such as information access, information integrity, and technical incompatibility (Olsen et al., 2009). References AT&T. (2015). ICT Solutions. AT&T Intellectual Property. Retrieved from http://about.att.com/content/csr/home/technology/ict-solutions.html AT&T. (2015). Technology Timeline. AT&T Intellectual Property. Retrieved from http://www.corp.att.com/attlabs/reputation/timeline/ Bansal, S. (2009). Technology scorecards: Aligning IT investments with business performance. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Hoque, F., Sambamurthy, V., Zmud, R., Trainer, T., & Wilson, C. (2006). Winning the 3-legged race: When business and technology run together. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Olsen, J. K. B., Pedersen, S. A., & Hendricks, V. F. (2009). A companion to the philosophy of technology. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Shane, S. A. (2009). Technology strategy for managers and entrepreneurs. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Tidd, J., & Bessant, J. (2009). Managing innovation: Integrating technological, market, and organizational change (4th Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Carr, P. and Lu, Y. (2007). Information Technology and Knowledge Worker Productivity: A Taxonomy of Technology Crowding. AMCIS 2007 Proceedings, Paper 51, retrieved from http://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2007/51 Cullinen, M. (2013). Machine to Machine Technologies: Unlocking the potential of a $1 trillion Industry. AT&T and Carbon War Room Research Report, pp. 42. Parisian, P. (2015). CIO, AT&T services, AT&T Inc. San Francisco: Boardroom Insiders, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1657238673?accountid=458 Petrides, L. A. (2004). Knowledge management, information systems, and organizations. EDUCAUSE center for applied research, 2004(20), 1-12. Read More