Introduction
For the last couple of decades, the process of implementing new resource-intensive strategies has been drastically fastened and improved. In this research, it is important to emphasize the significance of the digitalization of the present workspace and all the consequences, challenges, and obstacles that are associated with them. Thus, the question of the given research should be: how will digital modernization affect current workplace relations, and what are the methods to minimize any negative repercussions? Indeed, the reformation through electronic devices and the Internet is inevitable and, in my opinion, highly effective despite possible difficulties. However, in my opinion, there are different disadvantages that are rooted in constant modernization of the workplace. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to determine the main problems of digital transformation and ways to solve them.
Main Implementation Challenges
Although digital workplace transformation has shown a great variety of positive changes, modern professional conditions still present considerable challenges in adjusting modernization in people’s lives. It depends on a place or a region whether its community is ready to provide digital technology with the right quality and quantity of resources. The IT infrastructure has to be thoroughly designed specifically for the sphere in the particular workspace (Attaran et al., 2019). Further, unfortunately, a lot of professional communities do not have enough funds to provide an ideal way of implementing safe and efficient integration of current digital trends. However, digital environments are quite low maintenance, and usually, they tale much fewer assets than the traditional office jobs, so well-adjusted employers can actually save money by implementing digital resource-intensive strategies. Thus, it is essential for the companies to keep being relevant by using cross-functional delivery teams to put their technological equipment on another level.
Main Struggles in Digital Transformation
Despite the most visible advantages of implementing healthy digital relations, such an approach is not always ideal for the employees and their employers if there are some mistakes in using modernization strategies. For instance, due to recent studies, workers are more likely to face an information overload and get overwhelmed easily because of constant online mail processing (Colbert et al., 2016). Colleagues have to deal with a rather big amount of computerized data in comparison to the smaller quantity of information in traditional environments (Sivunen et al., 2019). Excessive work demands, in return, are quite damaging to the psyche of workers that leads to higher levels of anger, therefore, decreasing productivity in the workplace.
The Productivity Issue
Additionally, productivity can be lower than expected because some people confuse work and non-work purposes of technological advances. For that reason, studies show that workers can use their computing devices to visit recreational and entertaining websites that are not connected with their job in any way (Colbert et al., 2016). Indeed, because of the quick digital development aiming to ease human life, employees, instead of focusing on their work, use social networking sites, online shopping, video games, and so on.
People-Focused Approach
The negative aspects of computerization mentioned in the two previous paragraphs can be solved by quite an effective people-focused approach in work relations. First, the problem with data overload can be dealt with by checking up on workers and limiting the number of emails and inquires they have to face. Following employees’ rights and liberties is surely essential while implementing digital transformation (Meske et al., 2020). Second, in order to prevent employees from using unwanted websites, the workspace administrators should control workers’ online appearance and movements. Certainly, this method has to be used with precautions so it does not negatively affect workers’ privacy and mental health. On the contrary, the people-focused design of digitalization is meant to care more about workers’ needs (Williams et al., 2018). Hence, the current people-first trends are rather helpful in creating a safe and productive work community in a digital sphere.
The Positive Impact of Digitalization
To begin with, the digitalization of work-related spaces has shown many positive outcomes that are considered to improve sufficiency and productivity as well as, most importantly, the comfort and intellectual well-being of the workers. Obviously, computerization can help in the everyday workspace to amplify the workers’ voices and show their needs and inquires for better efficiency and mental state of the workers. Social studies scientists say that modern digital technology has various advantages for the working sphere because, first, employees have free access to any practically needed information (Colbert et al., 2016). Second, in the article, the authors mention that digitalization allows workers to collaborate with colleagues worldwide without any previous difficulties connected with long-distance work relations (Colbert et al., 2016). Third, one of the most crucial characteristics of computerization for improving work efficacy is the reduction of material waste in organizations (Attaran et al., 2019). Moreover, employees are now able to deliver any products with decreasing costs and increasing capabilities. Therefore, these positive repercussions are possible in business digitalization.
Conclusion
To conclude, further research is crucial in understanding the future influence of technological and digital fluency in the workplace. This paper has provided different arguments proving that well-thought digitalization is quite beneficial for the civilized system of work relations, and it is able to solve its own disadvantages. Although people are still in the process of proper modernization of professional equipment and resources, scientists already see visible advantages of such advances. Moreover, obvious challenges and negative aspects of digitalization can be solved by high-profile employers who can control the statics and data delivery.
Reflection Questions
- As for me, the most challenging aspect of this process was finding reliable sources and information for the research. It was quite difficult to look for new articles that could shed light on the issue of digital transformation in the workspace. However, I managed to find really interesting articles by academically acclaimed authors, but it surely took some time.
- I think my thesis statement about the efficacy of well-thought digitalization might be successful because it clearly correlates with the main body of the research. In the paper, I mention all the advantages of digital implementation and, more importantly, I argue how inevitable negative aspects can be solved. Thus, I am trying to prove the sufficiency of modernization of work relations.
- It was definitely useful for me to make a clear and understandable plan of my work, so I do not forget to mention essential points and arguments while writing the paper. In my outline, I posed a question and a working thesis; then, I wrote the main body where I mentioned the positive and negative aspects of digitalization and how to deal with implementation challenges. In the conclusion, I copied my thesis statement and mentioned the previous arguments on the benefits of digital transformation in the workplace.
- It would be helpful to get honest feedback on my paper so I can learn from my mistakes and become better at doing any kind of research. Additionally, I wonder whether there are any pieces of advice on how to successfully look for academically acclaimed articles and other materials for future writing.
References
Attaran, M., Attaran, S., & Kirkland, D. (2019). The need for digital workplace: Increasing workforce productivity in the information age. International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems 15(1), 1-23.
Colbert, A., Yee, N., & George, G. (2016). The digital workforce and the workplace of the future. Academy of Management Journal 59 (3), 731-739.
Meske, C., & Junglas, I. (2020). Investigating the elicitation of employees’ support towards digital workplace transformation. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1 -17.
Sivunen, A., & Laitinen, K. (2019). Digital communication environments in the workplace. Workplace Communication, 41-53.
Williams, S. P., & Schubert, P. (2018). Designs for the digital workplace. Procedia computer science, 138, 478-485.