Introduction
The essay analyzes the Interface of Technology within an Organization’s Workplace and the necessity to have a clear understanding of social and behavioral aspects of implementing new technologies. Information Technology uses systems that have the capabilities to input data, store data/information, protect the stored data/information, process data provided using instructions and share or retrieve data/information when required. Businesses implement new technologies to reduce costs of operations and improve the quality of goods or services which they offer. The cost of implementing or upgrading computerized systems is high but once it is successfully implemented daily operational cost is minimal.
Technology has been adopted by most businesses to meet the changing needs in the business environment by improving operations and efficiency in the delivery of services and products. Technology has made things to be easy, quick, reliable, convenient and efficient. It also has both positive and negative implications to businesses, customers and clients. If technology is adopted without thorough analysis and evaluation of organization culture, behavior and understanding of how workers use technology. Problems are bound to be realized in the initial concept which makes organizations to adopt a given technology (Adler & Gundersen, 2008).
Adoption of new technology
New technology has been adopted in most businesses to improve quality of services and products delivered to clients as well as increase efficiency of operations. However, adoption of new technology is mainly faced by resistance of employees who do not want to change due to fear of being jobless because they do not have the skills required to successfully implement the new computerized systems. (Rabina & Walczyk, 2007). This is a fact that most leaders in most cases fail to realize when trying to effectively integrate an innovation in any organization.
The case under review of a restaurant installing a computer at the point of sale has brought problem which is being addressed by the General Manager. According to the waiters, although the computer was intended to increase speed in service delivery, increase on efficiency and productivity. The inability of the cooks to understand operations of the system has made it not to be effective. This is because in addition to entering the customers’ orders in the terminal area, they had to go to the kitchen to inform the cooks the orders which have been placed by customers.
From what the general manager gathered, she realized that the technology-consulting firm that installed the computer systems at the point of sale didn’t assess the skills of the employees, knowledge and possibly the willingness of the employees to embrace the new technology (Callon, 1980). The firm also trained the restaurant managers who did not in turn train the other employees such as cooks and waiters. As a result long-time employees who were more experienced resigned and a section of employees complained of having too much work, poor service delivery and poor employee’s attitudes was also realized which finally resulted to low productivity and loss of customers.
Other factors that opt to be considered before adopting new technology includes budgeting of installation cost, evaluates alternatives operations systems if available (can you do without it), assess skills of employees, knowledge and their willingness of changing the computerized systems and management of the adoption process.
Conclusion
Not all newly implemented technologies succeed. Especially if the feasibility study is not done properly by taking in to considerations of the users needs and make all users get involved and interested in changes of the systems being used. Therefore, the managers should involve all stakeholders all through the process of change over to make them accept change and participate actively in its implementation hence increasing its success.
References
Adler, J & Gundersen, A. (2008). International Dimensions Of Organizational Behavior. Mason: Thomson South-Western.
Callon, M. (1980). The State and Technological Innovation: A Case Study of Electrical Vehicle in France. Research Policy. 9(4), 358-376.
Rabina, B & Walczyk, D. (2007). Information Professionals’ Attitude Towards The Adoption Of Innovations In Everyday Life. New York: Pratt Institute.