Technology in the Workplace

Social networks have been making a splash in the internet world over the past couple of years. In some studies into the monitoring of social media activity by employees has

This literature review will be focusing on the interactions of social media and employment. It will discuss the scientific findings of how communications processes in the workplace are affected by social media. In this paper, we will show: (a) There is a negative correlation between organizations that allow their employees social media access and how those employees view their employer; (b) Use of social media in the workplace environment increases employee productivity and performance, and (c) social support can increase the amount workers access social media at work. It will also discuss how social media affects the interactions between workers at organizations, how they feel about their jobs, and how communication processes are affected by social media.

Accompanying all actions, there are equal, and opposite reactions. Just as there are many benefits of social media in the workplace, there are many not-so-beneficial attributes associated with allowing social networking in your workplace. Time management is obviously the most important issue for all of us with always-on technologies of communication. Today we can record conversations, take pictures, check email, and visit networking sites through our own telephones. Extended smoke breaks are no longer in the picture when compared to the amount of time employees are using during work to reconnect with friends and family.

A majority of the working people sit at the desk all day, using one or more computers to work with. Even 100 years ago this was unthinkable and far away. The typewriter, the telegraph, and the first telephones and photographic apparatus were regarded as marvels of technology, which became indispensable for some branches of profession. However, most people only had very late access to modern developments that would change life and work sustainably.

Technology has continuously advanced bringing with it different changes in the world, from how we communicate, to the way we handle everyday tasks. Technology affects all aspects of life. People are so used to it, and it is even unthinkable to live without it. Technology is like our second nature, like breathing, we feel we cannot survive without it. It affects the way things are done on the job, and this can influence a worker’s job performance, both in a positive and negative way. Even though the technology can have a positive effect on social networking, communication, and increased productivity, the use of technology in the workplace can have an impact on employee performance, and can cause privacy and security problems.

The world around us is evolving into a technologically reliant environment. Workforces can be affected in both a positive and negative way. For instance the self-service tills used at Tesco

“Personal computers and the Internet came of age, bringing a revolution in the efficiency of processing information and making workers more productive. Manufacturing companies embraced more efficient production methods” (Jackson, 2007).

Technology is highly important to have and maintain in the workplace. The workplace is a continually changing atmosphere that desperately needs up to date technology in order for the workplace to thrive. A list of reasons why technology should be easily accessible in the workplace are to ; To stay relevant, maintain communication, staying organized and lastly keeping the workplace well known to the consumer.

According to Yigitcanlar, Velibeyoglu and Martinez-Fernandez (2008), there are a set of digital technologies which employers are seeking in order to improve on their outcomes and thereby maximize the stakeholders’ value. Among these technologies are those that are concerned with communication. Goode (2010) revealed that Australian employers have shifted from the traditional means of communication to the digital ones. Take an instance of electronic mails. Rather than writing letters to all employees to inform them about a given issue, Australian employers are now adopting the use of electronic mails, and this has increased the level of efficiency in the workplace tremendously. This is especially due to the fact that different types of resources including time and energy are saved. Another digital technology that has been applied within the Australian workplace is wireless network. A growing number of Australian corporate especially those that have a huge branch network are now communicating over long distances using wireless networks such as Wi-Fi. The same can be said about teleconferencing. Rather than holding the traditional meetings, Australian organizations are holding meetings and core sittings using what is called video conferencing. In general, managers and corporate stakeholders, regardless of their location, are using telecommunication technologies to communicate through simultaneous two-way

Technology has contributed to many of the largest changes in recent history. One field impacted by the revolutionary power of technology is work. The workplace continues to incorporate technology at an exponential rate that has in no doubt contributed to an increase in both the quantity and quality of goods and services available. The benefits of technology are widely known; however, the negative implications of technology in the workforce are a little more unfamiliar. The progression of technology in the workplace is harmful to society because of its degenerative effects on the working class. The widespread use of technology foremost threatens the stability of work and the character of the common worker.

The impact of computer technology in the workplace has been enormous within the past decade, both positive and negative. Distant communication through the use of computers and mobile devices have overhauled the office setting completely. Email, social networking sites and the world of the Internet have opened a whole new avenue of communication. Technology has changed the entire workplace environment, the relationships, and how things get done.

The impact of technology on productivity in the United States over the past ten years have driven down manufacturing employment. Manufacturers employ fewer workers and buy more computers and machines to do their work. "Computers have made manufacturers more productive by automating many routine tasks."

Since the creation of modern computerization, several consequences have arisen for humankind, particularly in the work environment. Both skilled and unskilled laborers are gradually being forced out of work due to these technological innovations. This is especially true in industries that have been greatly affected by this phenomenon, such as the communication, transportation, information and manufacturing activity. Rather than creating jobs and increasing productivity, mechanization has indeed triggered higher unemployment levels. In this paper, we will analyze the different causes and effects of technological advancement in terms of the rate of unemployment. Articles written by economy experts, such as Horst Feldmann, Luciano Floridi, Ronald Bailey, and other renowned economist form the bases of our paper.

The performance levels gained from the use of mobile technologies can be used to support employees in engaging in fluid working practices with few boundaries hindering interaction. It is provided with opportunities when team members are both scattered and moving, rather than when everyone is situated within the same office environment (Sorenson, 2011). For instance, in using mobile office applications, employees have instant access to e-mails the moment it reaches

Social media has increasingly been on the rise for over the past 10 years, so has the concern on the effect of it being in the workplace. People are spending more and more time on social media and other communication technology (Walder). Because of this, researchers have begun to wonder what the effect will be in the workplace. The argument of social media in the workplace is on the rise, and will continue to grow as the Internet continues to transform the way people are spending their time (Carlson).