An aspect, that has long since been addressed in design theory, which is how the office automation has impacted on the structure of organisation, now found its way into the social and cultural theory. In the past recent years, computer based technology has become a dominant element in office environments. The aim of technology is not to improve the efficiency in current office works, but to alter the structure of office work. The increase of using automated work system has caused different issues for the organisations. How will this technology impact on traditional office system? .How will it affect members, groups and the structure of the institute?
In the article “The social design of office automation” by Marco Diani, the author discusses on “how a more historical and multi-disciplinary study of social and organisational consequences of office automation is required …creating the artificial environment” (p67). The author also suggests that it is important to combine the multi-disciplinary study on office automation, therefore, some of the following aspects could be used to come up with a consensus based on the commonalities of office automation. (1) How office work changes in its nature and quality. (2)When and how individuals adjust their social identity to handle new jobs and technologies. (3) Which abilities and qualifications have to be restrained and which ones should be developed further.
Firstly author looks at the historical aspect of the office automation. As the author states “Multidisciplinary research seems to take root only when it is directed toward an activist goal…A historical perspective is perhaps the ultimate integrating force in a multidisciplinary field”, his purpose is to give the viewers a better underst...
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...ess of their physical location. Automated system can help improve the ability of the organization to accommodate structural changes
In conclusion, Diani’s purpose is to remind his audience that humans are still important factors in office design. He suggests that scientist and others who study/research how and why offices should be designed in particular ways must equally consider the effects of office design on the people who work in these settings. Diani intends his audience to be scholars and researchers who might be interested in office design from a scientific and functional research perspective. Office design should be “functional” as opposed to “usable” since it seems that Diani invites researchers to understand the notion of usability in relation to compassion for office workers who are now part of a computer-based technology revolution in their offices.
In her introduction, Barbara Garson gives the reader an idea of her personal work experience as a clerk with automation. One can see that Garson is a strong critique of automation. In order to convey how automation is affecting our society the author begins by analyzing and studying various jobs from the bottom on up (i.e. starting with the most unskilled labor).
A Capital One Financial Corporation has established such workplace by providing mobility and flexibility to their employees in business units. They implemented a concept “virtual workplace” which is based on reconfiguring office space and use of up to date mobile technology. It gives employees opportunity to be more productive since they are able to work from any place they would choose. According to the Benefits Survey Report from the Society for Human Resource Management published i...
Robert Probst, a designer who worked as the Director of research for office of furniture manufacturer, Herman Miller Inc., developed the “Action Office”, it was a proposition for an altogether new kind of space, a design which had plenty of work surfaces and display shelves; partitions were a part of it, intended to provide privacy and places to pin up works in process. This is how the office cubicle came into being. Today, it is estimated that more than 40 million North Americans spend their working lives in cubicles, with many of them passing more waking hours in the closed-office environment than in any other—even their own living rooms.
Machine learning and automation has played a large role in the ever changing labor market with new industries gaining momentum and old industries becoming obsolete. With the increasing amount of research and improvements in automation, feelings of anxiety and disdain towards automation have become normal for workers. Jobs are lost to machines due to the convenience and efficiency that machines offer, however, not all types of jobs are replaced. In a study done by a professor of economics at MIT, David Autor, the impact of automation has actually shown to complement labor by increasing the demand for other jobs that require the use of a computer (Autor). The common anxiety and fear of total job loss is a clear misconception;
This paper gives some insight into the vast subject of artificial intelligence and its use in the business world. Artificial intelligence is an incredibly interesting topic; it is used throughout the world in many different applications. Many do not know what artificial intelligence is or how it used, even though they are surrounded by it on a daily basis. To learn more about this topic it is important to do extensive research online by reading many different academic journals and articles. This paper will give the reader a better understanding of artificial intelligence and how it is being used in transportation and manufacturing businesses. These are just two small sections in the wide subject of AI (artificial intelligence) but give a bigger
Office ergonomics as is the case with other disciplines in ergonomics all emerged in the 1940s during the world war (McCormick and Saunders 1993). Difficulties arouse from soldiers inability to handle technical equipment produced for the war due to physical incompatibility or lack of understanding of the equipment and when the advancements in technology was transferred to the civilian populous after the war, the same problems in human-machine system incompatibility were observed. This led to a study by military personnel, academics psychologists and physiologist all researching on solutions to the complications arising from the operation of the machines (Kumar and Cohn, 2013).
The robot revolution has begun! The eradication of the human race by the cold, cunning, and calculating autonomous army of artificial intelligence is imminent and unstoppable… or is it? While our world is becoming increasingly dependant on new technologies, artificial intelligence is steadily progressing its importance in business, creativity, and labor efficiency. To understand the growing role of artificial intelligence, it is important to understand where it began and where it is headed.
Is automation “good” or “bad”? There are arguments on both sides of this issue. On one hand, the cost of production on a per item basis is generally low, on the other hand it is often said that automation takes jobs from people. In the old days manufacturing and fabrication were all done by hand by people. Now that computers and technology have succeeded in the industry, automation has become the competitive advantage in today’s manufacturing world. Automation has allowed for companies to mass produce products at outstanding speeds and with great quality. Although automation is constantly setting the standards for the American workplace and has many advantages, there are also negative aspects about automation. Automation has face some
Technology can displace numerous examples of workers in service industries. Shop fronts such as banking, real estate, travel and many more, are disappearing. Small retail food outlets continue to collapse, with the growing supermarkets and food chains organized around computer technology, and on- line shopping from home. An even completely automated home-computerized service such as a hardware and software package called “Jeeves” is now available. Business management and company directors are finding voice activated lap top computer secretaries far more reliable and efficient than the human
First of all, for the working peoples, the appearances of computer technology bring up a convenient
Today the technological world has developed and has continued to innovate to provide an easier lifestyle. This is the main focus of automation. Automation has gained more recognition from people in the business and industrial sectors. The purpose of this report is to discuss and inform the overview knowledge in the automation field. “Automation is the system of manufacture designed to extend the capacity of machines to perform certain tasks formerly done by humans, and to control sequences of operations without human intervention” (Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2017, p. 1). Humans are capable of such incredible things and have improved throughout time even develop automated technology to do those tasks. Automation and the technology
Automation started out as an assembly line of workers doing the same repetitive task all day long. Some of the jobs were very boring, dirty, unpleasant, and possibly dangerous. After the introduction of the first robot in 1961, automation began to advance in ways people could only imagine.
Computers are forever present in the workplace. Word processors-computer software packages that simplify the creational and modification of documents-have largely replaced the typewriter. Electronic mail has made it easy to send messages worldwide via computer communication networks. Office automation has become the term for linking workstations, printers, database system, and other tools by means of a local-area network. An eventual goal of office automation has been termed the 'paperless office.' Although such changes ultimately make office work much more efficient, they have not been without cost in terms of purchasing and frequently upgrading the necessary hardware and software and of training workers to use the new technology.
It took 12 years to perfect his system. His system was based on tasks and that each worker’s assignments should be pre-planned by management. Each job shoul...
The late 20th century has successfully witnessed the boom of sophisticated technology, which gave birth to a wide range of technological outcomes, including computer technology. Computer technology, that is a skill to manage information, communicate and a kind of entertainment media, has become an important part in modern life at work, in recreation and social networking. Whether computer technology is better or not is a complicated issue. There are different arguments that need to be examined. Most people support that computer technology is better for individual lifestyles. It improves quality of working and study, provides a wide range of entertainment and is a wonderful tool of communication. On the other hand, others believe that computer