As I read in Teamwork, Supercharged, I rememberd something similer hapend while I was working and also I get to think it is really hard to adapt new technology in a company and I think it is harder to get employees to use this technology. The decision is hard to take by the owner or the manager of a company. They might think that if things are working probably in the traditional way why we spend money and take a risk in new things. A smart manager who can really make such decisions and save a lot of time and money.
The other abstract of adapting new technology is to get the employees to use it. You do not want to spend a lot of money and waste your time looking for technologies that help getting the job done but no one in your office are using it. I remember at my previous job we have some programs that we paid a lot of money for but unfortunately non of the workers used them. I discovered this by a chance while I was going through the company’s programs licenses. I went to the general manager and I discussed this issue and he said that they bought this programs long time ago and these are really very helpful tools and he was surprised that nobody was using them. We forced the employees to use some of the programs which they really like and get used to and we had to get rid of some other programs that the employees would never learn to use them easily. It would cost the company a lot money and time to train the employees to use these programs that is why we decided to exchange them for other programs.
So it was good decision from the general manager to buy some of the programs and in the other hand was bad decision to buy the other programs that we could not use in the company. I also think if he did not make the decision of buying these new software by himself the employees would never ask for such programs since they think it is easier for them to keep working in the old programs so they wont spend a lot of time learning how to use them.
About Me
- majid
- I'm from Saudi Arabia ( Riyadh).In the past, I worked for a consulting engineers company as adminstration manager.Right now I'm studying computer science in the American University and minor in IT.
8 comments:
I think this is a very interesting point that you are making here. You have acknowledged what seems to be one of the most difficult problems facing managers and these new technologies. How do you know what programs are the most useful for the most people? Also, how do you make sure that you are getting the most out of your investment?
It seems from your example that awareness of the technologies was a huge issue. If I read correctly, it seemed that some of the employees didn't know the software was available. Maybe the best move for the manager would be to purchase/use a trial version of the software for the employees to test out before making the often massive expensive of buying full versions of softwares for entire networks.
I admit your view is partly right, especially when it comes to actual situation. I cannot totally agree with you though.
As far as I'm concerned, no matter what it is, every change is to be accompanied with risistance. However, it wouldn't be regarded innovative and progressive to give up changing only because of the resistance.
I think as mentioned in the Business Week, sometimes a manager should lead others to change.
you are right about people who are satisfied with their antiquated methods of doing things. the truth is..you have to spend to make. by spending money you can purchase products which can increase productivity and efficiency. my father is the same way as he is happy with his aol.com mail....when in reality, products such as gmail provide a greater service and an easier and faster interface...i think it will just be this new generation that will have to grow with this great understanding of technology rather than us trying to change the current older generations. lost cause for the most part!
Kolby, I really like this part and it might summrise the whole issue " How do you know what programs are the most useful for the most people? Also, how do you make sure that you are getting the most out of your investment?"
Honestly, I'm not sure if they did get trial version or not cause I worked for that company a year after they purchased these programs. After my arraival, I always ask the sale's represntitive to domenstrate the program to some of the employees and sometimes I get free trail version of the program.
Sang, I totally agree with you.
Alex, I like your example and I think you touch a very important point. I think this idea might change as most companies are hiring young people more than ever.
Majid-
You are illustrating a great point about the technology usage and adaptation.
I truly think that one of the biggest problems for the managers and for the companies is taking "risks". Companies nowadays are being very careful how to use technology and not to mention that they hate to lose profit.
Yes absolutely there is a lot of technology out there that is useful for various things, but companies from my standpoint still prefer to use it as the traditional method.
ben I think here you can distinguish between the good manager and the great one. I always believe companies who take risk would probably have great succes not all the time though.
Mostly they think if this way is working fine for them why they change it ot in other wards why they adapt new things that cost them a lot of money
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