How Is Technology Impacting the Changes in the 21st

Century Workplace?
by Ruth Mayhew, Demand Media

Significant changes in the workplace are the result of new and advanced
technology. For the past generation, technological inventions and
improvements seem to be introduced every week. The trend is
guaranteed to continue. Technology’s impact on the 21st century
workplace will result in rapid changes.

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workplace and
every aspect of
business
involving your Changing Workplace Rules
work force.
Technology makes it possible to telecommute, work from virtual offices
and communicate with businesses and individuals across the globe.
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Employee? increase. Customized programs that meet the specific needs of a
business are becoming more popular as companies engage the services
of functional and technology consultants. These experts can determine
the type of solutions necessary to help the business run smoothly and
efficiently. Companies such as SAP produce technology solutions for virtually every part of industry. SAP and similar
firms routinely send to their clients functional consultants familiar with the type of business and technology consultants
who know how to engineer the solutions.

Related Reading: Importance of Technology in the Workplace

Technology Careers
Careers in computer science and information technology continue to grow. Students in colleges, universities and
technical institutes seeking careers in this industry will likely be recruited upon graduation. According to U.S. News
& World Report, jobs in this field are among the top 10 careers, stating computer software engineers are in demand
because “The work of designing, building, maintaining, and integrating those increasingly complex systems
continues to be one the fastest-growing corners of the job market.” The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports
indicate that occupations in computer science and information technology will add more than 785,000 new jobs from
2008 to 2018. Statisticians predict the technology field will expand exponentially because of the demand for state of the
art technology products.

Globalization And Technology

Technology’s huge impact on globalization enables companies of all sizes to do business with customers all
over the world. In addition, businesses can establish satellite offices in practically any country no matter how remote as
long as there is Internet access. The competition for providing Internet access to developing nations will proliferate,
enabling growth in areas previously deprived of business opportunities due to lack of communication devices. The other
side of the coin is the international marketing of technology researched by George Washington University technology
professor Robert W. Rycroft. He makes an interesting observation about multinational countries engaged in
international marketing of technology products. This practice has been coined as "technology exploitation." By this
observation, it is the desire to push products that is creating wider globalization efforts instead of globalization efforts
creating a need for advanced technology.

Considerations
The world of computers and information technology has become such an important aspect of our lives, and it's
highly doubtful that there will be a return to traditional methods of conducting business. The primary benefit of
technology is efficiency. Businesses--from small businesses to large conglomerates--are capable of providing products
and services at a faster, more efficient rate which can result in higher profits.

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References (5)  (#)

"Bloomberg Businessweek": Soon, That Nearby Worker Might Be A Robot; Rachael King; 2010
(http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2010/tc2010061_798891.htm?
chan=technology_ceo+guide+to+tech_ceo+guide+to+tech+--+consumer+tech+at+work)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Overview Of The 2008-18 Projections (http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm)
U.S. News & World Report, Money: Computer Software Engineer
(http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/12/28/computer-software-engineer.html)
The George Washington University: Technology-Based Globalization Indicators
(http://gstudynet.org/publications/OPS/papers/CSGOP-02-09.pdf)
Muscular Dystrophy Association USA: Technology Transforms The Workplace
(http://www.mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q23computing.html)
Resources (5)  (#)
Texas State Human Resources Association (http://www.tshra.org)
Society for Human Resource Management (http://www.shrm.org)
The National Academies Press: The Globalization Of Technology (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?
record_id=1101)
National Human Resources Association (http://www.humanresources.org)
FederalDaily.com: Federal Telework Efforts Fall Short Of The Rhetoric
(http://www.federaldaily.com/federaldaily/archive/2010/07/FD070110.htm#1)
About the Author
Ruth Mayhew began writing in 1985. Her work appears in "The Multi-Generational Workforce in the Health Care
Industry" and "Human Resources Managers Appraisal Schemes." Mayhew earned senior professional human resources
certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute and holds a Master of Arts in sociology from the
University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Photo Credits
Computer image by Altmann from Fotolia.com

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