The current paradigm shift in technology has enabled organizations to be effective and efficient (Suematsu, 2004). Organizations can now compete favorably in the market as technology has enabled them to gain a competitive advantage.
Decision making in the workplace is now easy and information can easily flow from top management team to the subordinate staff. In addition, the information required can be generated and disbursed across several departments simultaneously.
Other than these benefits associated with the adoption of technology in the workplace, technology has other impacts on the quality of work both negatively and positively.
Implication of Technology on Work Quality
Although the emergence of technology has major benefits, it compromises the quality of work (Suematsu, 2004). For instance, the social media networks like Facebook and twitter are among the leading addictive sites with nearly every employ spending some time chatting with friends and spreading office gossip (Turner, 2010; Balderrama, 2010).
This makes technology a problem as employees spend hours that could have otherwise been utilized to generate good ideas that would benefit the organization. Instead, valuable time is wasted carrying out tasks that are not related to office affairs.
As a result, the quality of work is compromised; time wasted, and resources wasted too. Office gossips through social networks or spread of rumors and lies may create disharmony in the workplace.
Chaos can arise which can easily be fuelled through the social media networks. For example, employees can plan and execute strikes and stoppages through the social media which may compromise the quality of the work (Turner, 2010).
Technology adoptions in the workplace jeopardize the privacy of the employees and that of work projects. Through information systems management, information on employees’ private life like salary, home address, marital status, credit card number, and benefits can be stored in the organization database.
The information can be accessed from any point in the organization hence compromising the employees’ privacy. In the event that data or information lands on private hands, then the information can be used for malicious issues.
Also, technology enables management to monitor all what employees are doing in the workplace. The quality of work can be affected by this as some employees do not perform as required under supervision (Blish & Stiller, 2009).
In technology based organizations’ work projects can be jeopardized if they land in the wrong hands especially those of competitors.
Some employees may use the available technology for malicious purposes like individual gain, blackmail, or financial gains. Technology ensures that most of information is stored in database or online. Hackers can access the information and use it for their own benefits hence compromising the work quality.
Communication has been made easier by the adoption of new technology. Mobile phones have created a platform from where employees can communicate with their families either during or after office hours (Wajcman, Bittman & Brown, 2008).
The boundaries between the home and work are dissolved through mobile phones which is not a bad preposition. Also, employers can get connected with their employees in the field and know how they are progressing with their work (Wajcman, Bittman & Brown, 2008).
This ensures that work progresses on easily and monitoring is kept to offer assistances. However, sociologists warn that adoption of mobile phones has the capacity of colonizing the family life of the employees (Wajcman, Bittman & Brown, 2008).
Home based problems are transferred into the workplace where employees spend a lot of time making phone calls. For example, they can call and check on their families after thirty minutes which is not a bad thing but it compromises the quality of work.
As a result, using mobile phones during the office hours jeopardizes quality of work as employees spend a lot of time communicating. According to Wajcman, Bittman and Brown (2008) mixing family issues and work have adverse effects on the quality of work.
Employees can lie on their progress and commitment on the work they are doing especially when out of sight. As a result, trust, honesty, and faithfulness are compromised and this affects the quality of work.
Recommendations
Based on the problems cited in the memo, the following are the recommendations that could be adopted with the aim of solving the problems.
On the issue of social networks leading to time wastage, inappropriate use of company properties and resources, the organization should put into place policies that ensure that employees do not use the social media or any other internet site unrelated to the work during the office hours (Balderrama, 2010).
The organization can also block the sites which are not related to the workplace to ensure that employees do not even waste time snooping at the sites.
Lastly, an organization can make it clear that any employee found on those sites will definitely be terminated from the workplace. This would inhibit the use of the social media from spreading rumors and gossips in the workplace.
The issue of data privacy and information can be secured through the adoption of the latest technology which creates a firewall and protects its data and information from third parties.
It can also put high level security systems which safeguards the access of vital company information. For example, some data or information could be made accessible to particular group of people while the private and vital information could be made accessible by the management. In instances where passwords are compromised, biometric systems could be adopted.
Lastly, the use of mobile phones in the workplace could be resolved through the adoption of GPRS or GPS enabled phones which could track the whereabouts of the employees (Blish & Stiller, 2009).
This would reduce the chances of lying and deceiving the management on progress or whereabouts. On the other hand, policies could be put into place to ensure that no phone calls are accepted during working hours or in the office. This would reduce the chances of mixing work and family business hence improving quality of the work.
Conclusion
It is imperative to note that technology use in organization has major benefits. However, it has some associated implications which compromise the quality of work.
They include mobile phones use during working hours, use of social networks to spread rumors and gossips, and the risk of losing data and information to third parties like hackers.
I will be highly honored to have the opportunity of discussing this matter with you in detail. It would give us the opportunity of having the matter discussed at personal level. For comments, discussions, or questions, please conduct me through my electronic mail. Thank you in advance.
Reference List
Balderrama, A. (2010). Social media at work-bane or boon. Web.
Blish, N. A., & Stiller, S. P. (2009). Tracking employees using technology. Web.
Suematsu, D. (2004). Does technology improve quality of our lives? Web.
Turner, T. (2010). Social media is work worry. Web.
Wajcman, J., Bittman, M.., Brown, J. E. (2008). Families without borders: mobile phones, connectedness and work-home divisions. Sociology, 42(4), 635–652.