INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

DIGITAL WORKFORCE (UBM599)

FACULTY & PROGRAMME : FACULTY OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (BA250)

SEMESTER :3
NAME : SITI NAZIHAH BINTI SULAIMAN
GROUP : BA2503A2
LECTURER : NORADILLA BINTI OSMAN
1) Explain with example Crowdsourcing Fundamentals.
1. Platform
Platform is a place for exchanges of information, task, or services to occur between Job
provider and Digital workers as well as the community that interacts in the platform. It is also
a system that becomes the mediator and will divide work to digital workers. This system will
be controlled by an organisation or company. The jobs are received from various private
companies, government, or even individuals. Example of platforms like Fiverr, LinkedIn,
Upwork, PeoplePerHour and Freelancer. This platform can encourage to identifying and
solving complex issues. The Job provider can ask the crowd in Upwork for answers to helps
their company solves their problem such as looking for designer for a company logo or
branded. They might also seek an expertise in solving these issues. Moreover, this platform
can save money for the Company and generate profitable ideas. Crowdsourcing gives a pool
of unlimited talent. These talented professionals can solve the company’s problems at a lower
cost.
2. Digital Workers
Digital Workers are a group of workers who have registered with the crowdsourcing platform
to carry out a business process just like any employee that given by the platform. It is also an
individual or group of individuals with different education level, skills, knowledge, and
background can be involved in crowdsourcing as a digital worker. For example, each digital
worker can manage one or more process or task. Additionally, they can be trained to
prioritise selected tasks, handle exceptions, and learn by doing. Digital workers are
revolutionising the workplace. The deployment of a digital workforce is fast and economical,
no changes are required to existing information systems. Transformation promotes a flawless
and stable work process that reduces human error.
3. Job Providers
Job providers are business organizations, individuals, or the government which have certain
works or tasks to offer to digital workers. This involves businesses or organizations working
alongside private or public individuals to develop ideas for new products, services, and
systems. This also involves requesting ideas and knowledge. Whether you are talking about
space exploration, health policies and solutions or historical preservation, a wide range of
businesses and organizations are turning to crowdsourcing to find their next great idea. For
example, in Upwork by asking digital workers around the world to submit their ideas for new
Lego sets, the Job Provider can gets access to a truly diverse set of thoughts and preferences
and ends up with suggestions for amazing new products. As an example, if Job provider hire
someone to design a logo for them, Digital workers may charge them $5 for one concept, but
then charge them additional prices for more services. They could charge them $10 for 3 more
concepts, another $10 for different file saving options, another $10 for revisions, and so on.
By involving a broader group of people in solving a problem, the job provider can gain
access to hundreds or even thousands of different approaches to problem solving.
4. Enablers
The enablers are also a key component in the crowdsourcing ecosystem that can help enhance
the capability and capacity of platform, job providers, and digital workers. Governance is the
overarching structure of the digital workplace. It defines the procedures, boundaries, roles,
and rules for employees and customers operating within the space. Without explicitly defined
governance, business is merely fragmented by its digital presence. For example, engaging
clients to improve pay and working conditions. The signatory platforms to the Code of
Conduct have been generally positive about making procedural changes that would improve
workers’ experiences and safeguard workers’ rights. As an example, ensuring that workers
receive reasons for rejection of work such as non-payment or account closure and ensuring
that workers have a right to contest these decisions. Moreover, Enablers can improve the
platform terms of service. platform terms of service commonly include provisions directly
affecting working conditions in four areas: worker account and profile control; work
evaluation and payment; workers’ privacy, safety, and well-being; and workers’ legal rights.
Multiple clauses in any given terms of service document often affect each area. Modifying
terms of service becomes important so that they are fairer and can be favourable to workers.
When platform operators fail to notify users of the reason for their rejection, it can lead to
frustration and wasted time for the workers.
2) Explain the potential digital platform with 5 examples.
1. Upwork
The world’s obsession with the latest technology, social media and apps revolve around a
desire for an easier life. People want valuable solutions to their problems. More importantly,
they want it fast. The experience of customers is at the heart of digital. As a result, the
primary focus of digital transformation is to use cutting-edge technology to improve the
customer experience. For example, like Upwork which is founded in 2014 is an online
marketplace that connects clients, namely businesses and professionals, to skilled
freelancers.  The platform currently has 5 million businesses and over 10 million freelancers
on the platform. A concept is not new to the industry but with the increasing reliance on
online remote work, Upwork becomes an interesting player with potential to make a mark on
the platform landscape, especially, during the crisis of the COVID 19 epidemic where
working remotely online becomes mandatory and due to the economic fall -out, many are
losing jobs. Consequently, technology supporting work from home is on the rise, in addition
to Upwork we are seeing a positive trajectory with video conferencing businesses like Zoom
as well. As an industry, the online platform shows promising growth that could expand
rapidly with strong leadership and good execution.
2. TalentDesk.io
Putting money aside, the greatest universal benefit that technology has given businesses is
that it has made it easier to connect with other people. By going digital, companies can bring
more than just their workforce together, but also their entire architecture. This includes social
media, analytics, and project management interfaces. Consolidation of the company
processes and operations enables the business to connect with their target audience and
satisfy their needs. For example, TalentDesk.io brings both full time and freelance staff into
projects where they can cooperate. This means retaining access to talent pools like
PeoplePerHour, but adding custom on-boarding, project management capabilities and
automated payments. TalentDesk.io allocates a specialist to help people build a tailor-made
solution that fits their needs. Whether they want to leave completely alone or need a
stabilising hand throughout the entire process, TalentDesk.io will support them.
3. PeoplePerHour
Central to this flexible and adaptable nature is a strong digital workplace. This will allow the
workforce to remain productive and engaged in the transformation without feeling
overwhelmed or disconnected from the process. Merely having the technology in place is not
enough. If a business is to succeed in the future, the organization must adopt and apply a
company culture that embraces the change. For example, PeoplePerHour empowers people
worldwide to live their work dream. The core mission is to support entrepreneurs and small
business owners to build their businesses and become financially and professionally
independent. The PeoplePerHour freelance community consists of professionals from 150
countries with almost every skill. From master content writers to specialist coders, graphic
designers, social media experts, voice over artists, talented illustrators and much more.
Freelancers are available to hire by the hour or by the project and are always there to support
small businesses to achieve their goals.
4. LinkedIn
In business, agility is the ability to continuously improve and develop quickly, especially
regarding digital processes. There will always be new competition, new tools, and new
trends. With that, the customer will demand more, wanting it faster and better than before.
Staying ready is crucial. For example, With LinkedIn not only do people get the typical
demographic information most of the main social media channels offer like age, gender and
location, people can also target by additional factors like job title and industry. The LinkedIn
Sponsored Updates gives people a whole host of richer audience insights and targeting
options. And it makes sense too that the more information a LinkedIn user provides the better
chance their profile has of being found.
5. Fiverr
Millions of people from around the world come to Fiverr to find the talent and the services
they need to help build their business, their brand, and their dreams. For example, to ensure
quality across all services that are being promoted, freelancers will need to meet certain
criteria and quality standards in order to be invited to promote their gig. To start, sellers
decide what gig they want to promote and what their maximum bid is for that gig. Fiverr will
provide a recommended price to bid, however, freelancers are free to choose if they want to
bid above or below that number. Once their bid wins an ad spot, the gig will appear at the top
of the category pages or search results, right where relevant buyers can see it. In the end, they
will only be charged when a potential buyer clicks on the ad. As new technology continues to
go stratospheric, the demand for these specialized skills will grow. By braving the challenge
to make the change, businesses allow their employees to develop skills for the future, as well
as equipping their business with the in-house knowledge to sustain growth and a competitive
edge in the digital age.
3) Discuss the impact of Digital Technology to workforce
1. Identity Development and Interpersonal Relating
The prevalence of technology may also impact the quality of interactions and
communication. Most digital natives prefer communication via text through social networks
and email. Connecting via text is seen as more efficient and allows us to edit compared to
face-to- face or telephone conversations. There is an increasing tendency for people to
socialize and communicate via digital devices rather than through real life contact. This can
easily lead to a sense of disconnect and isolation. Human beings have evolved over thousands
of years to have real contact, taking that away affects them in all sorts of negative ways that
we only just beginning to understand. Studies have suggested that the lack of real-life contact
is causing depression and other forms of mental illness in many people.
2. Competencies of Digital Workforce
The digital workforce is competent, proficient and comfort in achieving desired outcome
using technology which often referred to as “digital fluency” (Briggs & Makice, 2012). For
example, skills in computer programming might become essential for a wide variety of jobs
in tomorrow’s knowledge economy. Identifying and teaching these enduring skills will be a
priority for educators. Even traditionally labour-intense occupations like nursing or aged
carer are likely to require an ability to work with computers and operate complex machines.
The work becomes efficient with the use of technology. The technologies like the computers,
the software’s installed in it. The software like Adobe Photoshop, coral draw, and many other
editing software do wonders to produce the final product. So, the efficiency of the work
increases with the use of the technology. The work done by machines is accurate. Every
product manufactured is the same. Every entry in the computers goes right and even the
computers can check the grammar of its own. People just write something, the spellings and
the grammar gets checked automatically.
3. Workplace and Workforce Trends
The technology helps in doing work with the pace unimaginable. Provided the technology
must be used in a positive manner. This is because after all, it is technically not the human
brain. So, it can stop working at any time. This is only possible with the help of technology. .
When humans work, there are chances of the work getting dissimilar. But this is certainly not
in the case of the technology. For example, when the robots are used to make a product, it
will be similar until the machine gets a defect. The consistency in the work is essential and
the demand of every company. This is also one of the reasons why the technology must be
used in the workplace. The advancement in technology has not just made a human being
advanced but also the style of working has got an immense change. The people have become
smarter and intelligent with the use of advanced technology. Due to the technology, it has
become possible to connect one department with other. It is just the Wi-Fi services which
help in increased connectivity. Earlier it was not possible, but now everything one can think
is possible. The manufacturing department can contact the advertising, production, planning
department with just a single click of a button. If the workplaces do not make use of the
technology, their work may come to a standstill. So, to prevent that one must make use of the
technology. Now it is the technology which rules in the workplace. Not actually just the
workplace but also at home. The technology has connected the people from one corner of the
world to another corner. If the office is in India and the client is from America, it makes no
big issue at all, because one can contact each other even sitting miles away through the
technology. So, the technology has connected people from every corner of the world.