| Solution Many people understand the role of technology in workplaces since Coronavirus broke out and people were compelled to work from home (CIPD, 2020). Survey results show that 93% of firms have shifted to remote working while 34% have embraced cloud computing as part of efforts to respond to the effects of COVID-19 (Buchanan Technologies, 2022). However, technology has been used in many ways in the workplace many years before the pandemic. The World Economic Forum (2020) traces the use of technology in organisations to the famous dotcom bubble of the year 2000, which marked the beginning of radical transformations in daily lives. With over 8 billion cell phone subscribers today, coupled with pervasive use of social media platforms like Facebook (World Economic Forum, 2020), organisations have a vast range of technological channels and online communities that facilitate better communication and enhances productivity. Positive impacts of technology Advanced communication devices together with technologies enable organisations to communicate better with customers. Businesses today have access to apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams that facilitate collaboration among large teams, thus helping organisations to complete large-scale projects with ease (Raval, 2022). Secondly, mobile devices and mobile apps have fostered mobile-first environments through which employees can complete their assignments anywhere and at whichever time they want to. Important events can now be conducted virtually; online portals are increasingly being used for marketing and selling products/services. Companies are also reaping immensely from increased functionalities and reduced costs through new technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (Raval, 2022). Negative impacts of technology Much of the available literature on technology and its impact on organisations focuses on the positive. It seems there are more benefits than dangers, but the downsides exist nonetheless. To begin with, the rate at which technology is taking over activities and human functions in the workplace is so high that it exposes people to burnout. According to Broberg (2021), individuals do not have enough time to relax or recuperate. Very few people have time and space to go on vacations since having perpetual access to laptops and emails tempts one to ‘check in’ for a minute, which gets addictive. In short, access to digital devices puts one in a mood to work all the time, leaving no room for recreation and personal time. Loss of interpersonal relationships with the vital human touch is another negative impact of technology in workplaces. Although it is true that technology enhances communication and information sharing, it is only beneficial when balance is maintained between how much to rely on technology and when to do things face-to-face. Broberg (2021) is of the opinion that overdependence on technology for communication could hamper organisations’ ability to build crucial customer relationships, thereby losing human touch within a company’s brands. |
| Explain theories and models which examine organisational culture and human behaviour. (AC2.1)Short references should be added into your narrative below. Please remember to only list your long references in the reference box provided at the end of this section. Word count: Approximately 400 words |
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