The Role of Information Technology on Workers Production

Information Technology (IT) is the study, design, development, implementation,

support or management of computer-based information systems. It reflects the

combination of three key technologies: (1) digital computing, (2) data storage, and (3)

the ability to transmit digital signals through telecommunications networks (National

Science Foundation, 2002). For the past decade, these three technologies advanced

the field. IT continues to have impact on how business, government, and organizations

operate.

One of the areas where Information Technology has impact is the production of

workers. With the introduction of Information Technology, it had caused a paradigm

shift to computing technology and “paperless” workplaces. This means that workplaces

had adopted innovations that allow them to minimize cost in materials and at the same

time, increase information sharing in the workplace. For example, a worker need not

wait for a memo to arrive at his desk. He can simply go to the company ebsite or

internal server , and check for updates in company policies and other work-related

concerns. That way, he can have the information at a quicker pace than a paper-based

communication will be able to facilitate. In other words, information retrieval is more

efficiently done. Information retrieval supports management, logistics, product design,

marketing and competitive analyses. Aside from that, another application of Information

Technology involves building databases.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman (2009) argues that information

technology by causing business to shift to computing technology had allowed workers to

focus and work more efficiently. Friedman presents the case of lightning company:

with the introduction of computing software, the agents were now able to accurately

match orders and device competitive proposals. By using computers, the business was

able to minimize mistakes. The workers can now focus more on catering to customer’s

needs.

IT can speed the flow of information among firms (National Science Foundation,

2002). By using an internal server or through the internet, information sharing is now at

a quicker pace. Solutions formulated from previous encounter from similar problems can

now easily be retrieved and utilized to another similarly characterized situation.

The Internet is used broadly by businesses and different industries today. In the

automobile industry it can potentially lead to cost reductions and productivity

improvements (National Science Foundation, 2002). In procurement and supply, it can

reduce the cost in purchasing. But this boon of the Internet is not limited to industry,

but on its workers as well: more recent studies reveal they increase worker productivity

by allowing for increased creativity (Eubanks, 2008). Social networking websites like

Facebook and MySpace can be used innovatively be employees to share information,

and pitch ideas.

Kenny and Curry (2000) reveal that the Internet reinforced that competitiveness

of direct marketers. This is evidence that most industries innovate constantly and

succeed with the help of development in IT. At Dell for example, sales over the Internet

grew from $1 million per day in December 1996 to $40 million a day in February 2000.

Dell also increased service to its corporate customers and improved its communication

with its largest suppliers using the Internet to find out Dell’s requirements and statistics

from the manufacturing line of the company.

In conclusion, it can be said that Information Technology can help boost workers

productivity by facilitating quicker (1) information sharing; and, (2) allowing employees

to focus on more human-intensive tasks, when computing is delegated to computers

and softwares. Companies can build databases that make for faster information

retrieval, and adopt softwares that can be used to generate information at a more

accurate and less labor-internsive manner.

References:

Eubanks, Michell Rupe. 2008. Study says social networking Web sites increase worker productivity. Times Daily. Available at: http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20081222/ARTICLES/812220329?Title=Study-says-social-networking-Web-sites-increase-worker-productivity

Friedman, Thomas. 1990. “The Lexus and The Olive Tree.” Farrar, et. Al. New York.

Kenney, M, and J. Curry. 2000. “We All Want to be Like Mike: The Internet and Personal Computer Value Chain.” Paper prepared for workshop on E-Commerce and the Changing Terms of Competition: A View from Within the Sectors, April 28-29,200, Berkeley, CA.

National Science Foundation. 2002. Volume 1, Science and Engineering Indicators–

2002, United States.