Oct 292011
 

It is argued that fundamental shifts in technology are activating massive changes in business particularly how information is accessed, captured, managed and shared.  The following article “Shifts in Technology are Driving Professional Changes” covers the issues quite well.

These changes have implications for everyone in all aspects of our lives.  We are now wired 24 hours a day with everything at our finger tips.  The Internet connects us like never before and hand held devices means we are constantly blurring the lines between personal and business.  Due to increased mobility, emails can be responded to from home or the local coffee shop.  Information travels faster and workers are expected to respond in an instant.  We are so far away yet so close as barriers of distance disappear.

Some changes for business due to technology:

–    Online bookings, surveys & other information gathering techniques

–    Outsourcing – i.e. telephone customer service

–    Databases, electronic diaries, schedules

–    Accounting practices

–    Administration – i.e filing

More businesses are setting up online so their target audience becomes global instead of local meaning that their market share can grow.  However, competition becomes increasingly more intense with additional competitors.  The rise of cloud computing (still at its early stages) has much growth and innovation to occur and will affect business in terms of IT capacity and capability.

What does this mean now and for the future?  We will be learning and adapting for many years to come.  Nothing really different than previous generations – only the technology is diverse!

I would love to hear from people about how they think technology is changing business.

Leave me your thoughts.

 Posted by on 29 October, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Oct 192011
 

There was an article in yesterday’s The Sydney Morning Herald “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet: Generation Wi-Fi is Changing the World” which looked at those under 30 and the communication technologies of their generation.  It made for interesting reading in respect to communication in the 21st century.

A lot has been written about the Internet and social media and how it is being used in the world today.  Not all of it positive.  Some suggest that modern technologies are narcissistic and destroying social cohesion as we know it.  Others believe it is inclusive and positive.  These comments are not new and similar comments can be attributed to previous generations with emerging technologies of that particular era.

Modern platforms allow us to be connected wherever we go.  One small device can be a phone, allow us to check our email or Facebook and book a restaurant all within minutes of each other wherever we are.  This is a vast difference to face to face communication not that long ago and as such mobile communication could be considered disruptive.

However, whether modern communication platforms are positive or negative really misses the point.  These technologies are here to stay and we must adapt to them and we will.  Each generation eventually adjusts to what is placed in front of it although most of the time there is resistance.  Change for most people is difficult.  The status quo is always preferred and individuals feel comfortable with what they know.  But society does adapt and before long we will have something else to fuss over!

Some argue that technologies today are built on the skill and knowledge of previous generations and as such are not new but rather further developed with current knowledge.

Would love to hear what you think.  Are modern technologies frustrating or are they simply the development of society?

 Posted by on 19 October, 2011 at 5:13 pm