Posted: February 16th, 2022

Social media and productivity in the workplace

 

 

Abstract

A global conversation has begun. Social software has created a new perspective for communication, collaboration, cooperation, and connection between consumers and businesses and their employees. Companies can now profit from its advantages financially and by building a more straightforward relationship with their workers. The new technology advances have allowed two-way communication, and have integrated media such as instant messaging, email, chat rooms, wikis, and weblogs into the typical workplace. Not that long ago, information was stored in physical files and punch cards, only to now have that information at our fingertips at any given time. This may sound exciting, working at any time from anywhere, but everything has flaws. In the case of technology, the problem isn’t confined to new internet technologies but its misuse. This paper addresses the impact of user addiction, breach of privacy and security, lack of control, and leak of company secrets within large corporations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

Strategic context

The use of technology devices has revolutionized today’s work environment. It is now possible to access real-time data and updates remotely from the comfort of an office desk. The workplace has made many strides, and the adoption of technology has massively impacted our way of working. Moreover, it is easier to derive better meanings and conclusions from more advanced data analysis tools that are now available. The adoption of technology at the workplace has created a collaborative environment.  

Some organizations as Hospitals and other related institutions, have sensitive information. The health sector has been on the front line on technology adoption. Technology has revolutionized the health sector, and now it is even possible to have your diagnosis virtually over the phone. Moreover, medical practitioners can now share information around the globe. Moreover, sharing patients’ confidential information is more manageable, especially within the same facility. Medical records can also be retrieved more efficiently and faster hence improvements in the quality of care delivered. However, Patient information is always at the risk of landing in the wrong hands (Stich, Tarafdar, & Cooper, (2018). Medical information and records are considered confidential,  are protected by law. There are policies on handling such information, and there are always concerns about safety and access. Any impropriate handling of data can jeopardize the confidentiality of patients.

Businesses take precaution measures to ensure the safety of important information and documents. Still, reported security breaches have made businesses and organizations vulnerable in the competitive business world. Every company strives to outshine its competitors. Leaking of information about a business’s financial positions or new inventions, exposing such a business can face unfair competition, especially when competitors exploit the reported weaknesses.  Moreover, organizations have sensitive information about their employees, such as family members, insurance policies, and health information which can be damaging when it lands in the wrong hands (Aguenza, Al-Kassem & Som, (2012). Employees are responsible for handling company information confidentiality and should always report any impropriate handling to the superiors immediately.

Automation and the implementation of technology devices have made it easier for both big corporations and small businesses to achieve their production goals.  Advanced management tools have made business owners now self-dependent; Managers can monitor the progress of various projects from their palms with mobile phones and tablets. Employees are now more productive and can manage better because they no longer have to physically leave their desks to attend meetings and conferences.  However, the adoption of technology has brought some challenges to the work environment. 

Findings

Implementation of technology at places of work has led to the underdevelopment of interpersonal and communication skills.  We need Interpersonal and communication skills in both social and work lives. Maintaining business and personal relationships is depended on our abilities to communicate and interact with others (Aguenza, Al-Kassem & Som, (2012).   At our places of work, we no longer have face-to-face discussions and meetings.  These were the traditional grounds of developing interpersonal skills. Moreover, we rely on social media and other messaging platforms to communicate with our colleagues. Technology has simplified our ways of communication but is limited. 

Moreover, people have become over-depended on these channels, and some find it challenging to establish productive friendships and relationships outside the virtual world of social media. Interpersonal communication allows people to develop and nurture listening and attention skills (Griep et al., 2021). These skills do not play a significant role in the world of texting. Employees need personal development to have social growth outside career excellence. Moreover, face-to-face communication is more effective, and a short physical meeting can solve challenges and misunderstandings, which is not easy with messages. 

The adoption of technology in the workplace is costly. Most of the devices used in the workplace are expensive to purchase and install, while others need periodic maintenance, which is also expensive. Some of the machines need the employees to undertake special training. Hours of production are wasted as well as financial resources. Moreover, the overall productivity of employees is hurt(Stich, Tarafdar, & Cooper, (2018). With every update, employees may struggle to learn new applications to meet new performance standards, impacting their morale. Businesses have to employ skilled personnel to operate sophisticated machines and get into a maintenance contract with qualified labor providers, significantly when a breakdown of the devices can alter the production of employees or an entire plant (Griep et al., 2021). All these costs impact the output of an organization as they put a dent in profit margins.

Businesses and organizations are always at the risk of getting hacked and important data stolen. Most technology devices installed in offices and other places of work come with security features from manufactures. At times, employers add more security to these systems by incorporating more security features that are more costly. Despite all these measures, there is a risk of information theft from hackers who get across firewalls.  Dishonest employees who have security clearance can also steal such information hence putting a business at risk.  The company has to rely on the ethics and credibility of its employees.

Privacy is a concern when monitoring employee activities.  Businesses have to protect crucial data, especially research institutes, telecommunication companies, and medical centers. There is a challenge of invading the privacy of the employees in the process of protecting company information. Companies can safeguard information with passwords and only monitor work-related activities. This could be a challenge when employees use company resources to access their social media personal accounts (Griep et al., 2021). This challenge could be mitigated by having clear guidelines on the use of company resources. This would limit the cases of privacy issues raised by employees.

Mobile phones and other communication devices used in work are addictive. Sometimes, a person can spend hours on the internet communicating with friends and updating their personal lives. Employees can waste hours without noticing the impact of such activities on the organization’s overall productivity. In such cases, the company losses time and money. Mobile communication devices are part of our lives, but without self-control, one can get addicted and lose focus of the essential duties while focusing on non-issues (Stich, Tarafdar, & Cooper, 2018). 

Overdependence of technological devices at the place of work has become a challenge. Most of the jobs in the office today rely on a technological device, be it planning for a meeting, writing letters, writing and generating invoices, communicating with clients, among others. Sometimes when there is no internet in the workplace, production in the office comes to a halt because of over-reliance on these devices (Griep et al., 2021).  Technology makes our work more manageable, but we should be ready to continue when the devices we rely on fail. 

Technology kills creativity and skills in the workplace. Automation of jobs has made the workplace more efficient, but the employees get used to the routine, and their creativity gets stagnant. Simple activities such as taking inventories and sales calculations are automated and done with the use of computers. Employees no longer engage their brains intensively. Consequently, some employees get lazy in the place or work. Employees do not solve complex business problems such as data analysis which are now solved by using computers (Aguenza, Al-Kassem & Som, (2012).

Conclusions

The adoption of technology at places of work has made work more accessible and more efficient. People now hold meetings and conferences when sited at their works stations or even at home. Sharing of information and files among employees is more straightforward with newly adopted cloud-based systems. Computers compute complex calculations and analyze data, and people no longer have to strain taking inventory or generating receipts and invoices manually. Managers and business owners can now track the progress of various projects using tablets and mobile phones.  

However, technology has brought several challenges, such as overdependence of employees on these devices.  Security of information is a concern to organizations, especially those in telecommunication, medicine, and research. Moreover, devices such as mobile phones are addictive and affect the overall productivity of an organization when employees are unable to meet their targets and deadlines. The implementation of communication technology in the workplace has resulted in the underdevelopment of interpersonal skills. Implementation of technology at the workplace is costly. Some equipment is expensive to purchase and install, while others need periodic updates. These costs add up to the productivity of an organization.

 

Recommendations

Organizations need to upgrade their systems periodically to improve security.   Information technology systems are exposed to the risk of getting hacked and unauthorized people gaining access to confidential documents. Some of the devices we use at work require periodic updates, which the equipment manufacturer usually supplies. The updates are critical to ensure the devices are secure, although some of the updates could be expensive. Moreover, organizations can enforce policies to ensure information is accessed by authorized personnel. Employees can be issued with security clearances while also imputing other measures such as passwords to protect company accounts.

Organizations need policies on the use of personal communication devices during working hours. Some organizations have strict guidelines on mobile phones during working hours, especially for teams not concerned with information sharing. Mobile phones also disrupt workflow.  It is impossible to control calls a person receives on their phone, either personal or for business. A person has to put aside whatever they are doing and accept the call, affecting employees’ productivity.  Employees should spend limited time on phone calls, especially the ones unrelated to work.

Creativity drives the work environment, and organizations should ensure their employees remain creative and innovative even on the adoption of technology and automation. Employers expect employees to find a balance when using technology devices and find tailor-made solutions to various challenges.  Different challenges arise within an organization daily, and employees have to remain creative enough to offer tailor-made solutions to each of the challenges. Organizations can ensure their employees stay creative and innovative by taking them through periodic training.

Organizations can overcome overdependence on technology devices by ensuring employees have alternative ways of performing their various jobs. Technology devices are in place to make our work experiences more effortless, but they cannot replace human resources in the workplace. Employees should be skillful enough to carry out their daily activities without overreliance on these devices when possible. Cashiers should be able to produce receipts manually once the electronic receipting systems fail to ensure continuous production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Aguenza, B. B., Al-Kassem, A. H., & Som, A. P. M. (2012). Social media and productivity in the workplace: Challenges and constraints. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research in Business ISSN, 2046, 7141.

Griep, Y., Vranjes, I., van Hooff, M. M., Beckers, D. G., & Geurts, S. A. (2021). Technology in the Workplace: Opportunities and Challenges. Flexible Working Practices and Approaches, 93-116.

Stich, J. F., Tarafdar, M., & Cooper, C. L. (2018). Electronic communication in the workplace: boon or bane?. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply

Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?

Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.

Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?

• Plagiarism free papers
• Timely delivery
• Any deadline
• Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
• Subject-relevant academic writer
• Adherence to paper instructions
• Ability to tackle bulk assignments
• Reasonable prices
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Get superb grades consistently

 

Online Academic Help With Different Subjects

Literature

Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.

Finance

Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.

Computer science

Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!

Psychology

While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.

Engineering

Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.

Nursing

In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.

Sociology

Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.

Business

We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!

Statistics

We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.

Law

Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.

What discipline/subjects do you deal in?

We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.

Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?

Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.

What if I don’t like the paper?

There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.

Reasons being:

• When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
• We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.

In the event that you don’t like your paper:

• The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
• We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
• Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.

Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?

Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.

What if the paper is plagiarized?

We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.

When will I get my paper?

You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.

Will anyone find out that I used your services?

We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.

How our Assignment  Help Service Works

1.      Place an order

You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.

2.      Pay for the order

Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.

3.      Track the progress

You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.

4.      Download the paper

The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.

PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!

---