Technology and Business Essay Example for Free

Technology and Business Essay Introduction If there is something that differentiates businesses all over the world before and after the Second World War, it is technology. Today, it is virtually impossible to create or find an industry untouched by even the simplest form of technology. Companies as big as software makers and even those as small as fund-raising charities utilize computers and other innovations to make work more organized, easier, and efficient. Thus, it can be said that rewinding to the time when technology is not yet popular in organizations is next to impossible. With the benefits that technology brings, it is not unusual to think that it also affects the way in which organizations behave. The direct access of many corporate individuals to computing machines and other technology shapes their perception and execution of work. Collectively, these perceptions and work executions make up the business culture that can affect and even change the organization tremendously. While it can be agreed that technology indeed changes the character of organizations, still there are two sides of contention. One is how the so-called organizational character has changed, if it had, and how it is still changing now. Secondly, it is important to note if the changes are towards a more positive organization, or otherwise. In discussing so it will be beneficial to point out the different issues surrounding the change that technology has brought about to companies and their cultures. Ultimately, there is an aim to find out how decision makers are affected by these character changes in organizations as brought about by technology. How technology is changing businesses To begin with, it can be argumentative to say that technology is changing the way organizations behave. Kraar L (1997) states that business cultures are changing in the same way that technological frameworks in companies are changing. Morrison J (1995) further claims that technology is unavoidable. However, merely expressing these claims do not show that the change is really happening, and how it is happening. A little history According to Craiger JP (2006), technology and business met halfway through two paradigm shifts. In the beginning, computers were purely of military use, mostly to study firing trajectories and strategize entry points to field battles. It was in the 1950s that computers were introduced for business use. At this time computers were big, called mainframe computers, and complex that they needed special skill and know-how to be operated. Computers and skilled operators were isolated in a computer room were all of the computer processes were done. At the same period, the era post World War II, there was a drastic improvement in the lives of people and there were more white collar jobs than ever. It followed that more white collar workers were hired, and these opened to more people being exposed into the technologically changing workplace. Still, however, computers were reserved for those who know how to use them. Because of this, employees who are not directly in touch with the new technology that their companies were adapting did not feel the importance or the effects that technology brought to their companies. Even managers did not feel the essence of technology in their day-to-day work life. It was only in the 1980s when more members of organizations have been given access to the new technology, thanks to the development of stand-alone computers by IBM. Through these smaller computers, managers and employees were able to appreciate the new technology that businesses have been clamoring about. (Craiger JP 2006).