Should companies be responsible for unemployment caused by their information systems?

Why or why
not?

In dealing with this question, it is important for one to understand what Information System is
and its role in companies, and understand the meaning of unemployment. I will define what
information system is and what unemployment is. Information system is a set of interrelated
components (hardware and software) that collect or retrieve process, store, and distribute
information to support decision making, coordinating and controlling in an organization, Laudon
& Laudon, 2015. Unemployment on the other hand is inability to obtain a job when you are
willing and able to work.

Information systems have developed over a period of time and their fundamental function are;
they collect or retrieve data, store data, processes the stored data and transform it to useful
information after analysis. This information is then used by managers, and employees to make
increasingly accurate decisions. The processes can be handled by a person but with extensive
time lags and inaccuracies which may lead to less accurate decision making.

Businesses have extensively invested in information systems and technology because these have
become a necessity for doing business. These necessities are driven by industry changes to
ensure survival as a business, Laudon & Laudon, 2015. Information systems have enabled firms
to respond to changes on the market were managers don’t have predefined steps to sort out the
problem in a shortest period of time. Firms have been able to make better decisions that improve
the execution of the business processes. Senior management through the information system are
able to monitor the real time performance of their firm even miles away using electronic
dashboards that display the trends and graphs generated.

Concluding on this subject I would agree to the question that companies are responsible for
unemployment caused by their information systems. Companies have no choice but to bear the
responsibility of unemployment due to the efficient information systems engaged to solve the
business problems while they are rapidly evolving and becoming more efficient.