Impacts of Technology in the Workplace
Introduction
Technology is the branch of cognition that is concerned with the development and use of technical means and their interaction with life and society. It is a summation of skills or methods that are used to produce services or goods. It can also be used to accomplish objectives for example scientific research. Technology impacts how different people communicate, think, and gain information. It helps to determine how people relate to each other playing an important role in the workplace and society at large. Technology in the global world that we live in increases the productivity of goods and services, replaces humans with robots and automated machines which leads to social inequality.
A new wave in the society that has been brought by the use of technology has provided a platform for a remarkable change in the way we work Holland &Bardoel (2016). These changes have helped to develop a revitalized interest in how work is designed and this is the smart side of technology. The dark side is when the advances of technology can provide an unusual level of electronic tracking and surveillance of work and workers both in and out of the workplace. This can bring up dangerous unions when associated with human resource practices that are made to create trust and commitment relations. This can bring about a negative impact on the employees and their work. These changes have an impact on policies and practice while companies look towards competitive advantage through workers who are traversing new ways to work through technology.
According to Parry & Battista (2019), the development of technology will cause changes in the workplace that will disintegration of traditional employment relations. It will also lead to the use of artificial actuality instead of travel and humans will be replaced with robots and artificial intellectuals. Currently, robots are being used to automate very simple activities and also make complex verdicts for example making a diagnosis in the medical sector. This means that many people will lose their jobs as a result of technology. There will be a new generation of employees with different attitudes compared to the previous labor force. For the employers, they will have to use large financial incentives to automate their systems that are normally handled by people. This automation will eventually have an impact on the nature of the job. It is upon the employers also to consider how the employees can be trained with new skills that are a result of technology for them to be able to retain their jobs.
Technology has helped to increase flexibility in terms of place and time. This is in the sense that organizations can meet employees’ needs and reduce the costs that are connected to a physical workplace. Internet technologies have made it possible for people to work remotely and even outside the normal office hours. It is also noted that besides technology, increased numbers of women in the workplace and pliable pension plans have also increased the flexibility in the workplace. Technology's impact on the well- being of the employee is that they are likely to overwork causing damage to their well-being.” For example, employees from Google referred to connectivity as an “electronic leash” that damages their wellbeing” Parry & Battista (2019). This happens because, with technology, work becomes nearer and can be easily accessed and at any time.
Technology can oppress or uplift people in the workplace. “Self-motivation and well-being are increased when autonomy, competence, and relatedness are satisfied and diminished when these needs are thwarted” Cascio & Montealegre (2016). A person should be able to control what they do, be competent, and feel connected to other people in the workplace. When technology leads to a lack of these things, people may become stressed, distracted, and have unproductive work behaviors. Technology impacts humans in several ways such as, how easy or complex it is to use, how efficient effective it is. People who feel that they are capable of using, learning new technology have no worries when new technology is introduced. Considering the role of social factors in accepting technology is significant. For example, if family and friends are using a certain technology, another person from that circle will easily adopt it.
Despite the economic growth that has led to the development of jobs, there has been an income inequality that is existing globally. Inequality is a threat to social well-being because it goes past fairness Kharlamova, Stavytskyy & Zarotiadis (2018). Technology helps to empower automation, helps in the production of new products and services, and improves markets and at the same time, new ones opened. Social and personal progress is enlarged due to international trade. However, the development of robots and other automated machines through increasing labor productivity is a threat to the labor force. Workers who are not skilled are the most affected by technology because their work is replaced by robots, automated lines among others.
Conclusion
Technology in the workplace helps to increase productivity, saves time, and physical space. It affects traditional employment relations and replaces humans with robots and automated machines. Technology has the power to oppress or uplift people in terms of how usable, effective, or efficient it is. It helps to strengthen markets and helps to open new ones reducing the labor force. This leads to the loss of jobs for humans who their work is replaced by the different forms of technology.
References
Cascio F.W & Montealegre R. (2016) How Technology Is Changing Work and Organizations
The Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behaviors online
atorgpsych.annualreviews.org.
Kharlamova, G., Stavytskyy, A., & Zarotiadis, G. (2018).The impact of technological changes
on income inequality: the EU states case study. Journal of International Studies, 11(2),
76-94.
Parry E and Battista V. (2019) The impact of emerging technologies on work: a review of the
evidence and implications Emerald Open Research 2019:5 for the human resource
function [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations
Peter Holland & Anne Bardoel (2016) The impact of technology on work in the twenty-first
century: exploring the smart and dark side, The International Journal of Human Resource
Management, 27:21, 2579-2581,
