Assignment:
Respond to two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
Explore additional ways that the technology experiences of your colleagues might impact you or change your practices.
Share with your colleague ideas for how they might adopt other technologies to enable them to further improve their effectiveness as business managers.
Compare your colleague's experience with your own, and share additional insights you gained.
POST1
Information and information technology are present in every aspect of an individual's life. From a professional standpoint, I have experienced an evolution in the way my office has operated over the past 15 years. When I first started there, all applications were mailed hard-copy from our office in Northern California to a processing center in Southern California. The applications were completed by hand, mailed, then typed by the processing center and mailed back for us to review and mail out to policyholders.
It was a cumbersome process and a single application could take nearly two weeks to turn around for a customer. As the years passed, the process of handwriting the applications changed to computer applications that were printed and mailed. Now the mailing has also been replaced with electronic submission. The turnaround now takes about two days instead of two weeks.
The evolution of technology has provided us with more efficiency. This efficiency is not only in the form of time, but in accuracy as well. It is much easier for a processing center to read type written language than handwritten. We find fewer errors on the paperwork coming back to us and when there is an error the correction is quick and easy. Outside the office our professional lives are impacted as well. The introduction of apps on smart phones allows clients to make changes themselves or complete their own applications. They can assist our claims partners with getting documents sent in faster. Overall, this technology has helped our younger generation remain satisfied with our service as they tend to demand quick and convenient access in all areas of their own lives.
My personal life is impacted as well, though, I will say that it is not all positive. As technology enters our lives and we become accustomed to being connected to everyone at all times I feel I need reminding at times to put my phone down or step away from a computer to enjoy the people who are physically in my presence. While I enjoy the convenience of being able to pay for things using apps on my phone and I enjoy that I can more easily keep connected with friends who no longer live in my direct area through applications of social media, this method of keeping in touch has nearly replaced the joy of "catching up" when I do interact face to face with friends. With the almost daily updates of what is going on in one's life through these outlets, we are faced with a strange and awkward silence when in person and there is nothing more to discuss. We almost know too much about each other and what is going on.
As a generally private person, I do not post regularly to social media, but I do log on daily to see what others are up to. Overall, I tend to agree with the argument that "online communication has an overall negative effect on relationships" (Goodman-Deane, Mieczakowski, Johnson, Goldhaber, & Clarkson, 2015). The findings in this study addressed the negatives and positives of technology on individual's personal lives and notes that they are conflicting results, leaving us to decide where we stand on the matter.
As a business manager, I can use these technologies to create an efficient and convenient environment for both my team as well as my clients. Use of computer applications allows my team to work quickly and efficiently, not spend time on steps that can be viewed as a waste. The technology used, such as e-mail, allows quick access for clients to obtain the information they seek from us without needing to wait for regular mail processing times.
The advances in technology that allow for supply chain initiatives as mentioned above is what allows for the reduction of time between a client request and the fulfillment of that request (Vickery, Droge, Setia, & Sambamurthy, 2010). The use of technology to provide efficiency also allows for competitively priced products as we are saving time and money on payroll and items such as stamps. The reduction of operating costs allows for a higher return on equity (Dmevich & Croson, 2013).
POST2
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Technology is an essential need in both my personal and professional daily life activities. Without having technology in my life, many factors would not be able to emerge. It has truly made my life more enjoyable and easy. In fact, the advancement of technology has given me the opportunity to further my education through a convenient online environment where I can obtain my MBA with easy access to course materials from any location. It's hard for me to imagine my life without technology. Without computers, alarm clocks, telephones, music and other things, it would be different from what I have adapted to today. I feel bad sometimes that I can't remember people phone numbers because I store everything in my phone now. Whether it's my personal, professional, or school life, I deeply depend on technology.
Technology has affected every part of my life. I spend more time in doors than outside. I spend over 12 hours of my day involved in technology by being on the computer, watching TV, and on my cell phone doing numerous things. It has helped me because with all the technology, I can do everything from the comfort of my home. Few examples would be, emailing, paying bills, shopping, searching important information for personal reasons, video chatting with family and friends who are in different places, and most importantly, mobile technology.
I live 3000 miles away from my family and friends I've known for a life time, technology truly keeps us in touch with each other and gives great comfort to knowing that people can be reached/and or notified in many different ways. My mother learned more about video chatting once I moved away. I can tell that it makes her feel so good to see my face sometimes, instead of just hearing my voice. Mobile technology has made it easier for me to contact people wherever at any time.
It is more than a necessity in my life. I can contact my family at any time to ensure safety, write and store important notes, use navigation systems, take pictures and videos for memories, and pretty much do the same thing I can do from a home computer with the right applications added. In my professional environment, mobile technology such as company approved secured laptops, "offers the advantage of always having my computer with me." (Parker, 2012, p. 22). This is beneficial to being able to complete assignments or answer important emails when not able to be in the office.
Information technology has changed my professional life by transforming how I am able to work. It also makes things easier. Desktop computers and laptops are the main technology devices that help increase the effectiveness in my work environment. It helps be more responsive, and more able to gain access to information over a wider range so I can effectively do my job and meet expectations.
It can make information more functional. For example, instead of using filing cabinets, the same information can be scanned to and organized on the computer or network for easy accessibility. Using other technology tools at work along with computers such as, copiers, scanners, faxes, computer applications, work systems, telephones, instant messages all help maximize my creative productivity. Business productivity software such as, SharePoint sites, pdf writers, outlook, teleconferencing, latitude collection system(s), custom file management portals, etc., ensure I have the needed tools to face every day work challenges in executing tasks.
I can also apply these technologies as a business manager by motivating employees to use technology tools for online performance evaluations to compare their current skills with those necessary for advancement, and/or connect better virtually with individuals who work outside the office to track their progress and goal completion. "IT investments can influence a firm's strategy through affecting both its efficiency and effectiveness, as well providing critical information that either increases the value of making investments in other resources or capabilities or steers management toward effective decision making." (Drnevich & Crioson, 2013, p. 485)
Information technology and effective business productivity software has created an environment that is easier to work at my highest capability when applied, making me a more engaged, productive and loyal employee.