How ICT has Affected Working Styles
Before computers became commonplace in business, typewriters were as high-tech as it got. Some were electric (not electronic) typewriters, but most were mechanical ones which worked by forcing a letter (on the end of a mechanical arm) onto an ink ribbon and then onto a piece of paper leaving the imprint of the letter on the paper. One of the main disadvantages of typewriters was that if you made a mistake, and particularly if changes needed to be made to the text, the document often had to be re-typed from scratch.
With the advent of reliable computers, desktop machines started to replace the typewriter. This meant that office typists had to learn new, more varied skills. Many expected to lose their jobs as fewer and fewer typists became needed. Computers, however, had many varied uses and each demanded a different, specialist set of skills:
Spreadsheets started to be used for accounting, analysing data and modelling situations creating job roles ranging from data inputters to ICT Managers.Databases and other management information systems (MIS) also needed specialist staff.Software and hardware engineers were required to prevent and solve technical problems.The success of the Internet brought with it requirements for Web designers and programmers.
In the 1980s, when it was predicted that at least 5 million people would be put out of work by the year 2000 due to computerisation, no-one realised the number of support roles that would actually be created. Just take data input, one of the most labour intensive yet vital areas of ICT. Inaccurate data input can cause chaos within an IT system.
Yes, jobs and skills changed but many people in traditional office roles were re-trained to use the new technology and the predicted mass unemployment was avoided.
Costs of moving to, and using, the new technology (e.g. equipment, maintenance and support costs) were probably greater than before but this has to be measured against the very great benefits gained from improving accuracy and efficiency.
IT experts also predicted that computer technology would enable The Paperless Office. This is still a dream for some companies, but, in fact, computers often generate more paper nowadays than ever existed in the older style office.
Emails are used in the office for communicating on an informal level e.g:
To send memos.As a substitute for face-to-face conversation.
Email communication over distance is much easier and quicker than sending letters. One disadvantage of email is that a huge amount of junk mail or is sent, and it can be a nuisance weeding out the rubbish from one's inbox even with spam filters.
The mobile phone means that anybody can be in communication with their work at all times. This enables businesses to boast faster and more efficient response times. One of the main disadvantages of mobile phones is that they can be used by employers to contact employees outside work time thereby encroaching on personal lives.
A lot of employees are being given laptops instead of desktop computers. A laptop is portable and allows people to work in or out of the office. Wireless network enabled laptops make this even easier as they can be used anywhere where there is a wireless hot spot. One disadvantage of laptops, as with mobile phones, is that people can be expected to work at all times and the distinction between private and work time can become blurred.