HOW IS TECHNOLOGY IMPACTING THE CHANGES IN THE 21stC WORKPLACE?

Significant changes in the workplace are the result of new and advanced technology. For the past generation, technological inventions and improvements seem to be introduced every week. The trend is guaranteed to continue. Technology impact on the 21st century workplace will result in rapid changes in the organizations.

Changing Workplace Rules

Technology makes it possible to telecommute, work from virtual offices and communicate with businesses and individuals across the globe. Flexible work schedules are popular because so many duties and responsibilities can be accomplished from an employee home or while the employee is traveling. The private sector initially became the test case for telecommuting arrangements, and the federal government followed suit in its attempt to be competitive with industry in attracting qualified candidates. Remote reporting relationships are also a factor of improved technology. Managers of team members who live and work in different cities, and even different countries is becoming more common.

Cost of Technology

As companies demand more sophisticated technology to help manage their businesses, the cost to develop and produce applications will likely increase. Customized programs that meet the specific needs of a business are becoming more popular as companies engage the services of functional and technology consultants. These experts can determine the type of solutions necessary to help the business run smoothly and efficiently. Companies such as SAP produce technology solutions for virtually every part of industry. SAP and similar firms routinely send to their clients’ functional consultants familiar with the type of business and technology consultants who know how to engineer the solutions.

Technology Careers

Careers in computer science and information technology continue to grow. Students in colleges, universities and technical institutes seeking careers in this industry will likely be recruited upon graduation. The work of designing, building, maintaining, and integrating those increasingly complex systems continues to be one the fastest-growing corners of the job market. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports indicate that occupations in computer science and information technology will add more than 785,000 new jobs from 2008 to 2018. Statisticians predict the technology field will expand exponentially because of the demand for state of the art technology products.

Globalization and Technology

Technology huge impact on globalization enables companies of all sizes to do business with customers all over the world. In addition, businesses can establish satellite offices in practically any country no matter how remote as long as there is Internet access. The competition for providing Internet access to developing nations will proliferate, enabling growth in areas previously deprived of business opportunities due to lack of communication devices. The other side of the coin is the international marketing of technology researched by George Washington University technology professor Robert W. Rycroft. He makes an interesting observation about multinational countries engaged in international marketing of technology products. This practice has been coined as technology exploitation. By this observation, it is the desire to push products that is creating wider globalization efforts instead of globalization efforts creating a need for advanced technology.

     By Mbogo Tausi 

      BAPRM 42611