Introduction
The book under analysis provides an account of the importance of prioritizing human resources for managing the business world and other spheres of social life. The authors criticize the daily routine in which people are involved because machines have become dominating tools for constructing reality. The automated environment created a number of adversities and hurdles for managers operating in a modern social setting.
It also emphasized the necessity to introduce new strategic schemes for managing the technological environment. In fact, social media has become the leading tool in exchanging and sharing information within the businesses and beyond it, which makes it challenging for humans to operate by means of outdated managerial practices. In this respect, the authors call for returning to the roots of human communication and interaction in order to avert the computer revolution and develop a new business setting. More importantly, Notter and Grant focus on the techniques that can make business organizations more human, as well as provide guidelines for people who plan to integrate changes to their businesses.
Main discussion
To provide supporting evidence, the authors have conducted extensive research on the main constructs of the modern business environment, as well as how it is influenced by technological intervention. In particular, references are made to such reliable newspapers as the New York Times, revealing information about the close connection of social media with economic and political worlds.
The strong synergy of these fields does not contribute to the humanization of the business environment because of a lack of mutual response to the emerging events. By using this evidence, the authors manage to describe in detail what obstacles businesses can face while acting in a social environment, as well as how these obstacles can be eliminated through the humanization process. (Notter and Grant 67).
They should also understand that businesses should consider much deeper organizational issues, such as human resources management, crisis communication, and social infrastructure to sustain a competitive advantage. These issues, however, are not confined to social media. While evaluating the current business environment, the authors pay attention to the role of social media in it. In particular, the book focuses on the communication channels that people use to exchange knowledge and information. Social network expansion can provide a number of advantages for businesses because it is one of the fast means of spreading information.
Nevertheless, the social media revolution creates new opportunities for consumers to disseminate negative feedback, which is difficult for business organizations to control. Using researches of the leading experts in sociology and social psychology, the authors have managed to establish the connection between social media expansion and its negative consequence for the overall improvement of the business environment.
Although the book relates to the business and economic environments, the authors have managed to introduce difficult terms in a simplistic way so that reader does not have to be an expert in the field to understand the main arguments. Additionally, the authors apply interesting and unexpected comparisons that widen the readers’ comprehension of the cultural and social aspects of the business world. More importantly, the book can serve as a guide for individuals who want to gain a deeper understanding of how to humanize in a business environment, as well as establish fruitful cooperation.
Despite the consistency and reliability of the research, there are some controversial points that need to be addressed. In particular, evaluating the business organization structure through the prism of automation and technology dominance does not provide an objective analysis of the real situation. In fact, it is impossible to consider human resources as a part of the entire automated mechanism because humans rather than technology should be prioritized in managing a business environment. Innovation, advancement, and creativity are definitely positive consequences of social development unless they are fully controlled by technology.
Therefore, the book consistently and cohesively introduces efficient techniques in developing new patterns of socialization that can contribute to problem-solving and decision-making processes. Promoting human resources management should be a priority for managers in a business organization because it enriches organizational cultures, as well as enhances employees’ motivation.
The fact that the author does not provide the book organizational plan in chronological order is not confusing. Rather, the authors skillfully create thematic nodes that allow the readers to assess the value and the main purpose of the book. They first refer to the analysis of an actions plan that should be presented to avoid full dependence on automation. Additionally, the authors provide recommendations for improving the social environment in organizations and enriching corporate culture through developing new schemes and directions in communication, which should become more human.
The book provides practical recommendations for students who want to enlarge their knowledge concerning how businesses can efficiently operate in a modern social environment. Therefore, the book presents unique information about a modern social world, as well as how businesses can adjust to these new challenges to enrich their organizational culture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the book focuses on the strategies that can make business organizations more human despite rapid technological advancement. It also provides instructions for leaders who strive to integrate person-centered strategies in carrying out business. Finally, highlighting the urgent issues of social media expansion is also important for facing the challenges of the modern business world.
Works Cited
Notter, Jamie and Maddie Grant. Humanize: How People-Centric Organizations Succeed in a Social World. US: Que Publishing, 2012. Print.